Kim<\/a> appeared in leather jacket and sunglasses in front of the colossal weapon, which was first introduced in October 2017 as capable of hitting targets worldwide.<\/p>\nBut military observers say the launch was actually an older ballistic missile rather than the Hwasong-17, as an attempt to quell negative noise about a failed launch last month.<\/p>\n
Officials from South Korea and the US say the Hwasong-15 was tested by North Korea in November 2017 before the intercontinental ballistic missile ban measure.<\/p>\n
Washington has not yet spoken publicly about the issue but Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters yesterday that the test is still being analyzed.<\/p>\n
The development comes after after the release of Hwasong-17, officials in Seoul and Washington discovered inconsistencies in the cured propaganda video and in photos published by the North Korean media.<\/p>\n
They said shadows, weather and other factors suggest the footage was from another test, possibly from the failed March 16 release.<\/p>\n
“The choice of the Hwasong-15, which is the most credible after the successful 2017 test, could be aimed at silencing the regime’s negative noises after failing to launch the missile on March 16,” Seoul said in a Reuters report.<\/p>\n
Such tests enhance the country’s reputation and status as a ‘center of power’ and consequently improve its position in negotiations with the US and the international community, where the “fear of the most dangerous” normally prevails.<\/p>\n
The previous failure prompted Korea to prove it a “big lie” by saying the March 24 launch of perhaps Hwasong-15 was a Hwasong-17 to avoid negative opinions, analysts say.<\/p>\n
Thursday’s rocket flew for 67.5 minutes at a range of 1,090km and an altitude of over 6,200km, according to state media.<\/p>\n
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