North Korea’s ICBM test and what comes next – NKNews Podcast Ep. 229

North Korea News Podcast

North Korea tested one of its biggest weapons for the first time in years last week, launching a long-range missile that soared 15 times higher than the international space station before splashing down in waters west of Japan. The DPRK soon claimed that it fired a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with state media airing a dramatically edited video showing leader Kim Jong Un guiding the launch of the monstrous weapon. While analysts have cast doubt on North Korea’s claim that it successfully test-fired a Hwasong-17, the launch still marked a significant escalation of tensions that prompted a military counter-response from South Korea and calls for new U.N. sanctions on Pyongyang. This week, NK News reporters and analysts join the podcast to discuss whether the launch breached Kim Jong Un’s moratorium on long-range missile testing, how the test fits into North Korea’s long-term weapons development goals, the looming possibility of renewed nuclear weapons testing and more. This week’s episode features the following members of the NK News team: Founder Chad O’Carroll (@chadocl), Director of Korea Risk Group Andrei Lankov, Senior Analytic Correspondent Colin Zwirko (@ColinZwirko) and Lead Correspondent Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim). About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot (@JaccoZed) exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.