NoKor Tests Missile Capable Of Hitting Guam

North Korea confirmed Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, it test-launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the US territory of Guam as Washington plans to respond to demonstrate it’s committed to its allies’ security in the region, Hyung-Jin Kim reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Photo Insert: Guam is a US territory 3425 kilometers or 2,128 miles away from North Korea.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Sunday’s test of the Hwasong-12 missile was aimed at selectively evaluating the missile being produced and deployed and verifying its overall accuracy.

It said a camera installed at the missile’s warhead took an image of Earth from space, and the Academy of Defense Science confirmed the accuracy, security, and effectiveness of the operation of the weapons system.

North Korea said the missile was launched toward the waters off its east coast and on a high angle to prevent it from overflying other countries. It gave no further details.

According to South Korean and Japanese assessment, the missile flew about 800 kilometers (497 miles) and reached a maximum altitude of 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

The reported flight details make it the most powerful missile North Korea tested since 2017 when the country launched Hwasong-12 and longer-range missiles in a torrid run of weapons firings to acquire an ability to launch nuclear strikes on US military bases in North Asia and the Pacific and even the American homeland.

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