North Korea unveils missile capable of reaching US as Trump floats meeting with Kim
Photo: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (Getty Images)
The United States has raised the possibility of a meeting with Pyongyang, while North Korea has showcased a missile capable of reaching US territory and conducted new weapons tests, according to Reuters.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the opening of the Defense Development Revolution Museum. He was accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and daughter, Ju Ae.
The museum featured the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile. According to North Korea’s state news agency KCNA, the missile is capable of reaching US territory.
Shin Jong-woo, secretary-general of the Korea Defense and Security Forum, drew attention to the display near the missile’s launch vehicle. In his assessment, the design on display could indicate the use of multiple warheads.
A world map showing the missile’s claimed range was also displayed nearby. The range extends beyond the continental United States, covering regions including the Middle East, Australia, and South America.
The display of military developments came as US President Donald Trump spoke about the possibility of meeting the North Korean leader during an upcoming trip to Asia.
Why North Korea built a permanent weapons museum
Analysts believe the opening of the museum is part of Kim Jong Un’s broader campaign to cement the regime’s military achievements.
Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies, said the shift from temporary exhibitions to a permanent display carries symbolic significance.
In his assessment, North Korean authorities are presenting the development of the country’s nuclear and missile capabilities as a lasting legacy of Kim’s rule.
North Korea conducts new missile tests
In addition to displaying its weapons, North Korea reported a test launch of a tactical ballistic missile on October 12.
According to the report, the test was intended to verify the successful technical improvement of one of the missile’s key components.
On the same day, South Korean military officials said North Korea had launched several ballistic missiles toward the sea off its eastern coast. According to their estimates, this was North Korea’s fourth missile launch in a month.
North Korea had already conducted missile tests earlier this fall. On September 20, Pyongyang launched two short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the first missile traveled 440 kilometers (274 miles) at an altitude of 60 kilometers (37 miles), while the second traveled 590 kilometers (367 miles) at an altitude of 70 kilometers (43 miles). Both missiles fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
