![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/kim-jong-un-vows-to-ramp-up-nuclear-power-as-he-tests-most-powerful-weapon-yet/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/0_North-Korea-Koreas-Tensions-23194000042291.jpg&description=North Korea made one of its most aggressive boasts yet after launching the Hwasong-18 - an intercontinental ballistic missile which Kim Jong-un claims could fly to the US if launched at the right trajectory Dictator Kim Jong-un has made audacious new claims about his country's nuclear weapons as he tested their "most powerful weapon yet". North Korea's state media has reported the leader supervised the second test flight for the weapons, which are designed to strike the United States. A statement issued by the leader hinted at the country ramping up its weapon testing off the back of recent "hostile" moves by the US to enhance its security commitment to ally, South Korea. "The present unstable situation in which the security environment on the Korean peninsula is being seriously threatened by the hostile forces every moment," Mr Kim said, according to state media. "(That) requires more intense efforts to implement the line of bolstering nuclear war deterrent." His comments, reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), came a day after the Hwasong-18 was launched a second time since its first test in April. The dictator has called it the "most powerful weapon" in his nuclear arsenal. The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has a built-in solid propellant, making it more difficult to detect than liquid-fuelled missiles, AP reports. If launched in the right position, the weapon could potentially fly across the Pacific to reach the US west coast, although weapons experts say there is still technology to master if they were to achieve this. According to the KCNA, the missile was launched into the air to avoid neighbouring countries and spent 74 minutes in the air - the longest time of any weapon launched in the country - travelling 622 miles, before landing in a targeted area off North Korea's east coast. A meeting by the UN Security Council was scheduled for Friday afternoon to discuss the launch at the request of the United States, UK, Albania, France, Japa){kind=link}
North Korea made one of its most aggressive boasts yet after launching the Hwasong-18 – an intercontinental ballistic missile which Kim Jong-un claims could fly to the US if launched at the right trajectory
Dictator Kim Jong-un has made audacious new claims about his country’s nuclear weapons as he tested their “most powerful weapon yet”.
North Korea’s state media has reported the leader supervised the second test flight for the weapons, which are designed to strike the United States.
A statement issued by the leader hinted at the country ramping up its weapon testing off the back of recent “hostile” moves by the US to enhance its security commitment to ally, South Korea.
“The present unstable situation in which the security environment on the Korean peninsula is being seriously threatened by the hostile forces every moment,” Mr Kim said, according to state media.