Fri Nov 01 19:40:00 UTC 2024: ## North Korea Boasts of ‘World’s Strongest’ Missile in Latest Test, But Experts Doubt Claims

**SEOUL, South Korea (AP)** — North Korea has claimed its latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, witnessed by leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter, showcases “the world’s strongest” missile. However, experts remain skeptical, arguing the weapon’s size and potential limitations raise doubts about its practical use in a war scenario.

The ICBM, designated as Hwasong-19, was launched on Thursday and flew higher and longer than any previous North Korean missile. While the official state media agency KCNA declared the missile “the perfected weapon system,” foreign experts say the test doesn’t indicate North Korea has mastered the key technological challenges for functional ICBMs capable of striking the U.S. mainland.

Photos of the launch show an oversized missile and launch vehicle, prompting experts to question their wartime mobility and survivability. According to Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at Seoul’s Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, the large size could have made the launch easier for South Korean intelligence to detect in advance, making the missile vulnerable to preemptive attacks.

While North Korea has made claims of possessing multi-warhead missiles and advancing reentry technology, experts believe these claims might be exaggerated. They point out that North Korea has yet to demonstrate its ability to ensure warhead survival during atmospheric reentry, a critical component for a functional ICBM.

The timing of the launch, just days before the U.S. presidential election, suggests North Korea was seeking to grab American attention and respond to international condemnation over its reported involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war. The country’s reported dispatch of troops to support Russia has raised concerns about potential military cooperation and technology exchange between the two nations.

In response to North Korea’s actions, the foreign ministers of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan have condemned the ICBM launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. South Korea has imposed unilateral sanctions on North Korean individuals and organizations involved in funding the country’s weapons program, while South Korea and the U.S. conducted a joint live-fire exercise using unmanned aerial vehicles to showcase their preparedness.

Despite North Korea’s assertive rhetoric and claims of military advancements, international skepticism regarding their capabilities remains. The country’s missile program continues to be a major regional security concern, raising anxieties about potential escalation and threats of nuclear strikes.

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