2017 North Korean missile tests
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Throughout 2017, 17 missile tests were conducted by North Korea. These tests ranged in success, and included first tests of the DPRK's new missile, the Hwasong-12, which was the most-tested missile type over the course of the year. 2017's missile tests are especially notable due to the several instances of North Korean missiles passing over Japan, provoking a response from the Japanese government, as well as the test of an ICBM, the range of which prompted an Emergency Debate of the UN Security Council.
April
On April 4, 2017, North Korea launched a Hwasong-12 ballistic missile which reached the Sea of Japan.[1] The test came after a day of celebration for North Korea's Eternal President Kim Il Sung.[2] US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson responded by saying the United States had not changed its stance on North Korea and would not comment further.[3]
On April 15, 2017, a
On April 28, 2017, another
May
On May 14, 2017, a ballistic missile test was carried out. The Hwasong-12 missile flew for 30 minutes, covering a distance of 700 km (430 mi) and reaching an altitude upwards of 2,000 km (1,200 mi).[10][11]
June
On June 8, 2017 North Korea fired four anti-ship missiles off its east coast, near the port city of Wonsan.[12]
July
On July 4, 2017 North Korea tested an
On July 28, 2017, North Korea launched an additional ballistic missile from
August
On August 26, 2017, three short-range missiles were launched around early morning from a site in Gangwon Province, with the second one appearing to have blown up almost immediately while another two flew about 250 km (155 miles) in a north-eastern direction, before crashing in the Sea of Japan.[18][19]
Mid-range launch over Japan
On August 29, 2017, at 5:57 am KST, North Korea launched a Hwasong-12 ballistic missile that passed over Hokkaido, the second largest island of Japan.[21] The missile travelled 2,700 kilometres (1,700 mi) and reached a maximum height of 550 kilometres (340 mi).[22] This was the second successful test flight of the Hwasong-12 missile, following three failed tests.[23]
People living under the missile's flight path received a
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called this test "a reckless act of launching a missile that flies over our country is an unprecedented, serious and important threat."[25] North Korea had previously carefully avoided sending test missiles over Japan by using highly lofted trajectories, and had sent more recent satellite launches to the south avoiding Japan.[26] The missile was at an altitude of about 500 kilometres (310 mi) over Japan, well into space, and the Japanese military did not attempt to shoot down the missile.[27]
The missile was launched from
This was the fifth time North Korea fired a rocket over the Japanese archipelago,[28][29][30] although this launch was the first missile launch, as the previous four were satellite launches or attempts.[26]
September
On September 15 at about 6:30am KST, North Korea fired a Hwasong-12 missile from the Pyongyang International Airport, which, for a second time, overflew Hokkaido, Japan.[31] The missile traveled 3,700 kilometres (2,300 mi) and reached a maximum height of 770 kilometres (480 mi); this is the furthest distance any North Korean IRBM missile has ever reached.[32]
No. | Date | Model | Area flown over | Advance notice | North Korean claim | Satellite name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 31, 1998 | Taepodong-1 | Akita | No | Satellite launch | Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1 |
2 | April 5, 2009 | Unha-2 | Akita, Iwate | Yes | Satellite launch | Kwangmyŏngsŏng-2 |
3 | December 12, 2012 | Unha-3 | Okinawa | Yes | Satellite launch | Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 |
4 | February 7, 2016 | Kwangmyŏngsŏng (Unha-3) | Okinawa | Yes | Satellite launch | Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4 |
5 | August 29, 2017 |
Hwasong-12 | Hokkaido |
No | Missile launch | N/A |
6 | September 15, 2017 |
Hwasong-12 | Hokkaido |
No | Missile launch | N/A |
7 | October 4, 2022 |
Hwasong-12 (presumed) | Aomori | No |
November
On November 28, North Korea launched another ballistic missile, a
See also
- 2017 North Korean crisis
- 2017 in North Korea
- Korean conflict
- Korean reunification
References
- ^ "North Korean missile fired ahead of US-China summit". BBC News. 2017-04-05. Archived from the original on 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
- ^ Park, Ju-min; Kim, Jack (2017-04-05). "N.Korea test-fires missile into sea ahead of Trump-Xi summit". Reuters India. Archived from the original on 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
- ^ "North Korean Missile Launch". www.state.gov. April 4, 2017. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017.
- ^ Paula Hancocks, Barbara Starr and Steve Almasy (April 16, 2017). "North Korean missile test fails, US and South Korea say". CNN. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
- ^ Courtney Kube, Stella Kim (April 16, 2017). "North Korean Missile Launch Fails 'Almost Immediately', U.S. Military Says". NBC News. Archived from the original on April 15, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
- ^ Kevin Bohn (April 16, 2017). "McMaster: All options on table in regard to North Korea". CNN. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
- ^ Ankit Panda and Dave Schmerler (January 3, 2018). "When a North Korean Missile Accidentally Hit a North Korean City". The Diplomat. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ^ "North Korea crisis: North in another 'failed' missile launch". BBC News. April 29, 2017. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017.
- ^ "North Korea missile test: regime has 'disrespected China', says Trump". The Guardian. April 29, 2017. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017.
- ^ "North Korea carries out new ballistic missile test". BBC News. 14 May 2017. Archived from the original on 14 May 2017.
- ^ Schilling, John (May 24, 2017). "North Korea's New Hwasong-12 Missile". 38 North.
- ^ Westcott, Ben (June 8, 2017). "North Korea launches 4 anti-ship missiles, fourth test in a month". CNN. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ "North Korea hails 'successful ICBM' test". BBC News. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ "North Korea claims it tested first intercontinental ballistic missile". ABC News. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ Finnegan, Conor (5 July 2017). "US threatens military action at emergency UN meeting on North Korea". ABC News. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ "North Korea conducts new intercontinental missile test". BBC News Online. 28 July 2017.
- ^ Schilling, John (August 1, 2017). "What Next for North Korea's ICBM?". 38 North.
- ^ "North Korea fires three missiles into sea". BBC News. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ^ "North Korea launches trio of missiles amidst US-South Korea military drills". CNN. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ^ "N. Korea's missile could be advanced IRBM: defense minister". The Mainichi. August 29, 2017.
Onodera added that the latest missile flew on a regular trajectory, unlike the North's recent missiles that followed a "lofted" trajectory.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
- ^ "North Korea ballistic missile flew 2,700 km: South Korea military". Reuters. August 28, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
- ^ a b c Ryall, Julian (29 August 2017). "What was the missile North Korea fired over Japan and was it a warning to Guam?". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- ^ Rich, Motoko (August 29, 2017). "Japan Wakes to a Text Message: Missile Approaching". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
- ^ Barney Henderson; Julian Ryall; Neil Connor; Chris Graham (August 29, 2017). "'All options are on the table': Donald Trump says world has received North Korea's message 'loud and clear' after Kim Jong-un fires missile over Japan". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
- ^ a b Wright, David (August 29, 2017). "North Korea's Missile Test over Japan". Union of Concerned Scientists. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
- ^ Pollack, Joshua (5 September 2017). "Why didn't the US shoot down North Korea's missile? Maybe it couldn't". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ "N. Korea fires missile over Japan". Japan News. Yomiuri Shimbun. August 29, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-09-01. Retrieved 2017-09-24.
This is the first time that a North Korean missile has flown over the Japanese archipelago since February 2016, when a North Korean satellite launch flew over Okinawa Prefecture. It was the fifth time overall.
- ^ "Editorial: Japan needs to push for urgent diplomatic solution to N. Korea issue". The Mainichi. Mainichi Shimbun. August 30, 2017.
This was the fifth time that a North Korean missile flew over the Japanese archipelago. In the past, North Korea had indicated in advance that it would launch what it called "rockets," apart from its first missile launch in 1998.
- ^ "Japan, US look to cut off North Korea's oil supply". Nikkei Asia. August 30, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-09-01. Retrieved 2017-09-24.
Though this marks the fifth time North Korean missiles have flown over Japan, key differences from past cases indicate that the threat is greater this time.
- ^ "North Korea 'fires missile from Pyongyang'". BBC. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-09-15.
- ^ Nichols, Josh Smith (30 November 2017). "U.S. Warns North Korean leadership will be 'utterly destroyed' in case of war". Reuters.
- Yonhapnews (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-11-30.