Report: Kim Jong Un watched missile launch

Associated Press

PYONGYANG, North Korea

In an implicit challenge to President Donald Trump, North Korea fired a ballistic missile early Sunday in its first such test of the year.

North Korean state media said leader Kim Jong Un was at the site to observe the launch and expressed pleasure at the North’s expansion of its strategic strike capabilities.

A report on the launch carried early today by the North’s Korean Central News Agency said Kim watched from an observation post and gave the order to fire the “Pukguksong-2,” which it said was a “Korean style new type strategic weapon system.”

It is believed to have flown about 310 miles before splashing down into the ocean in international waters.

The report said the test proved “the reliability and security” of a new mobile launching system, the solid fuel that was used and the guidance and control features of the ballistic missile. Solid fuel can give missiles longer range and make detecting them before launch more difficult because they can be readied faster than liquid fuel missiles.

The report also said the test verified control and guidance capabilities and said the missile can be “tipped with a nuclear warhead.”

It added that Kim “expressed great satisfaction over the possession of another powerful nuclear attack means.”