North Korea launches ICBM during NATO summit, after threatening US

July 12, 2023

Karah Rucker, Anchor/Reporter

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North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Wednesday, July 12, the same day leaders of South Korea and Japan met at the NATO summit. According to Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, the missile reached an altitude of 3,728 miles, and set a record for North Korean missiles with a 74-minute flight time.

“The government has provided information to aircraft and ships navigating in the vicinity, as well as related organizations, and has not confirmed any damage reports at this time,” Matsuno said Wednesday. “A telephone discussion between Japan, the United States and South Korea at the foreign ministry director-general level had just taken place. The government will respond in close cooperation with the United States, South Korea and the international community, including at the United Nations Security Council and will continue to do our utmost to collect, analyze and monitor information to protect the lives and property of the people.”

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol convened an emergency National Security Council meeting at the NATO summit in response to North Korea’s missile launch. President Yoon vowed to use the summit to call for strong international solidarity to confront such threats.

“We condemn North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, including its latest missile launch,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. “This violates multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions and poses a threat to regional and global security.”

The White House also condemned the launch, saying it would take all necessary measures to ensure its security and that of South Korea and Japan. The launch comes just days after North Korea accused U.S. spy planes of violating the North’s airspace, and just weeks after a U.S. nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine arrived near the Korean peninsula.

“The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement,” National Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge said in a Wednesday statement. “The United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and Republic of Korea and Japanese allies.”