List of North Korean missile tests
China also criticized the launch, however urged "the relevant parties" to "refrain from taking actions that may further escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula".
Admiral Bill Gortney, head of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, told Congress in March 2016, "It's the prudent decision on my part to assume that [Kim Jong Un] has the capability to miniaturize a nuclear weapon and put it on an ICBM," suggesting a major shift from a few years earlier.
[170] On August 29, 2017, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the latest North Korea Ballistic Missile Launch and termed it as violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, as According to press reports, early Tuesday morning, the North Korea Ballistic Missile travelled some 2,700 kilometers, flying over Japan before crashing into the Pacific Ocean.
Corresponding seismic activity similar to an earthquake of magnitude 6.3 was reported by the USGS making the blast around 10 times more powerful than previous detonations by the country.
[175] Members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), including UK and France, condemned North Korea's recent missile launches.
[176] On October 2, North Korea confirmed testing a new ballistic missile launched from a submarine, and called it a "significant achievement" towards dealing with external threats and boosting its military power.
[177][178] In December, Planet Labs released new satellite images of a factory unit where North Korea develops military equipment used in launching long-range missiles, indicating the construction of a new arrangement.
[134] On October 4, 2022, North Korea launched a missile that flew over and past Japan, prompting Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida to release an announcement warning citizens to take shelter and other precautionary measures.
[140] In early October 2022, the U.S. called an emergency UN Security Council meeting, at which it accused Russia and China of protecting the North from stronger sanctions.
The launch triggered the Japanese emergency broadcast system, which alerted residents in the prefectures of Miyagi, Yamagata, and Niigata to stay indoors.
[148] On 19 November 2023, ROK Defense Minister Shin Won-sik informed the Korean Broadcasting System that an anticipated third satellite launch by North Korea was expected by the end of that month.
[188][189] In October 2024 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited missile bases to inspect their readiness for "strategic deterrence" actions.
These actions have drawn widespread international condemnation and led to the imposition of additional sanctions aimed at curbing the country's military advancements.
[190] In January 2025, response to joint U.S.-South Korean military drills, North Korea carried out a cruise missile test, emphasizing its commitment to strong counteractions.
