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 Noord-rth Koreaanse Hwasong-12-raket infographic
Graphic shows Hwasong-12 missile and range.
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MILITARY

Noord-Koreaanse raketdreiging voor Guam

By Duncan Mil

January 31, 2022 - North Korea fired a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile into its East Sea, capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam. The latest test is Pyongyang’s most significant in years.

South Korea’s military said it detected the missile, fired at a steep angle from Mupyong-ri in the northern province of Jagang on Sunday. It flew about 787km (500 miles), reaching an altitude of 2,000km. This flight envelope would give it a range of 4,500km if flown on a standard trajectory.

The first test of the Hwasong-12 occurred in April 2017, from Sinpo in the South Hamgyong province of North Korea. According to U.S. Pacific Command, the missile flew a distance of 60km. It reached a height of 189km before starting to “pinwheel” out of control, crashing in the Sea of Japan after just nine minutes of flight.

Two more tests failed in April 2017. One missile exploded seconds after launch, and another broke up during flight.

The official Korean Central News Agency has released photographs that it said were taken from space during the latest missile launch, showing parts of the Korean peninsula and surrounding areas.

With peace talks with Washington stalled, leader Kim Jong-un has conducted a record number of seven missile launches in the past month alone.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 31/01/2022; STORY: Graphic News
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