SEOUL (South Korea), Feb. 23 (ANI): North Korea could make progress in developing a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by 2023, a South Korean intelligence official told lawmakers, NHK World News reported.
The National Intelligence Service, which is part of South Korea’s Defense Ministry, made the comments during a closed-door briefing of the National Assembly’s intelligence committee on Wednesday, according to NHK World News, according to a participant.
Solid-fuel ballistic missiles can be ready for launch more quickly than liquid-fuel ballistic missiles. North Korea announced in December that it had successfully conducted a combustion test of what it called a high-thrust solid-fuel engine.
During the briefing, intelligence officials also briefed NHK World news on North Korea’s development of a military surveillance satellite as part of its five-year defense plan. North Korea said it would complete preparations for the satellite by April 2023, NHK World News reported. Officials have said a satellite launch is a strong possibility.
In early February, North Korea confirmed that it had tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in a “sudden launch exercise” the previous day, saying it demonstrated the continued efforts of North Korea’s strategic nuclear forces to transform its “lethal nuclear strike capability” China News Agency observed reports, “Counterattack against hostile forces.” North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast on Saturday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. (Arnie)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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