North Korea launched ICBMs according to the US. During the test launch of North Korea dated February 26 and March 4, the US says these were intercontinental ballistic missiles. They also said that it was a “serious escalation” of North Korean threats.
According to the Pentagon, they were “likely to evaluate this new system before conducting a test at full range in the future, potentially disguised as a space launch.” These launches are testing a new system that was unveiled during the Korean Workers Party parade in October 2020.
“The United States strongly condemns these launches, which are a brazen violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, needlessly raise tensions and risk destabilizing the security situation in the region,” Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said.
He also added that “the United States is revealing this information publicly and sharing it with other allies and partners because we believe that the international community must speak in a united voice to oppose the further development and proliferation of such weapons by the DPRK.”
The assessment was made in cooperation with South Korea and Japan. President Joe Biden remains open to meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The US Indo-Pacific Command announced that they have “ordered intensified Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance collection activities in the Yellow Sea, as well as enhanced readiness among our ballistic missile defense forces in the region.”
Department of Treasury is expected to announce “new actions to help prevent the DPRK from accessing foreign items and technology that enable it to advance prohibited weapons programs,” the official said, adding that “there will be a range of further actions in the coming days.”