Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said North Korea could test-fire solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBM) as early as this month and may launch a long-range missile at normal angles to escalate already-high tensions ahead of key elections in South Korea and the United States.
Report informs that in an exclusive interview with Yonhap News Agency, Shin said the weapons system unveiled by North Korean state media during leader Kim Jong-un's visit to a munitions factory earlier this week appears to be close-range ballistic missiles (CRBMs) capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons.
"North Korea first test-fired a close-range ballistic missile in April 2022. It is a new type of weapon with an estimated range of 100–180 kilometers," Shin said.