North Korea’s latest missile tests could be a bid to coincide with joint drills in the region between China and Russia, while also a sign that Pyongyang sees no alternative in diplomatic talks with the United States but to press on with developing its nuclear and conventional arsenal.
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Observers also warn that the recent launches are a show of force to America that the North would target its assets and strategic interests in the region, while also fulfilling the deployment of one of several hi-tech weapons pledged by its leader.
Pyongyang on Thursday announced it had successfully test-fired a new tactical ballistic missile designed to carry an exceptionally large warhead, further escalating tensions ahead of the US presidential election.
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The missile, named the Hwasongpho-11-Da-4.5, was tested on Wednesday, carrying a 4.5-tonne conventional warhead, according to Pyongyang’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The test-fire was “aimed at verifying the accuracy of hit at medium range of 320km and explosive power of the super-large warhead with a missile loaded with such a warhead”, the KCNA said.