North Korea says its underwater-launched missile test is a success

North Korea on October 3, admitted that it carried out its first underwater-launched ballistic missile test in the last 3 years. The test was allegedly conducted to build pressure on the United States before resuming nuclear diplomacy over the weekend. The test of the Pukguksong-3 missile was carried out on October 2 and North Korea called it a submarine-launched ballistic missile. It is considered as one of the country's most powerful weapons ever since it began its diplomatic talks with the US in early 2018. According to some experts, North Korea wants to show America what can be the consequences if diplomatic talks fail. 

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Launched confirmed by local media

A North Korean news agency claimed the underwater-launched missile test off the east coast of the country was successful. It further stated that the test helped in reducing the threat of the external forces to the country and also strengthening its military power in case of self-defense. They did not report what kind of external forces they are talking about and did not name any particular nation. However earlier, the country said that the US military threats are causing it to develop its own nuclear-armed missiles. The report did not talk much about where the missile was launched from, a submarine or any other underwater launch platform. N Korea released photographs of the test showing the missile rising above the sea level forming smoke around it. The launch platform could not be identified from the pictures that were released. 

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Reactions from its immediate rivals

An analyst from Seoul Kim Dong-yub wrote on his social media that the missile most probably was launched from a barge built especially for such launches under the water. He also wrote that missile is under development and the North must have a trial from a submarine before deploying it. The Defence Ministry of South Korea said the missile of North Korea made a journey of 450 km at a maximum altitude of 910 km. The officials said the missile went higher as compared to any of the other short-range weapons the North launched in the past few months. The US state department called on North Korea to avoid any such provocation and follow the commitment as per the UN Security Council resolutions after the launch of missile on Wednesday. 

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(With AP inputs)