Pyongyang’s test of longest-range missile yet demonstrates advances in campaign to build weapons that can strike U.S.
South Korea’s Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said at a press briefing that the test was part of North Korea’s efforts “to be recognized as a nuclear state and deal with the U.S. at a higher position.”
Hours after the launch, dictator Kim Jong Un declared that Pyongyang had “finally realized the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force,” according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency. North Korea said the missile was fired from a mobile launch system, and that Mr. Kim personally oversaw the test.