MILITARY
North Korea’s missile tests
September 5, 2017 - Satellite imagery indicates that North Korea is moving an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) towards test facilities at Panghyon Airbase or Sohae Satellite Launching Station, suggesting a launch during Saturday’s founding day celebrations.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has conducted 84 missile tests since taking power in 2011. Of 18 test launches this year alone, five failed.
In July, Kim observed a successful KN-14 (Hwasong-14) ICBM launch from Panghyon Airbase which flew a high-altitude trajectory of 2,784km (1,730 miles) and a distance of about 928km (577) miles, landing in the Sea of Japan (East Sea).
On August 28, the launch of a missile, believed to be a KN-17 (Hwasong-12), from Pyongyang flew 2,682km (1,667 miles) over Northern Japan before breaking into three pieces – consistent with the failure of a reentry vehicle.