One of three missiles launched by North Korea this week had an unusual double-arc flight path.
Source: US officials in CNN commentary
Details: It is noted that the rocket “twice rose and then fell.”
According to one version, the purpose was to test the rocket’s ability to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere in order to reach the target.
The second phase of a possible double missile arc could be related to the separation of the warhead from the main missile. It’s not yet entirely clear to the US whether this was part of the planned flight route, one official said.
Officials stressed that the US intelligence evaluation of all three test launches is still at a preliminary stage.
It is not clear which of the three rockets launched had the unusual flight pattern.
Japan has publicly hinted that one of the missiles flew in an unusual way, and Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi called it “the wrong trajectory.”
Background:
- On May 25, North Korea launched three ballistic missiles off its east coast. The launch comes just hours after US President Joe Biden left Japan after his first trip to Asia as president.
- United States Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield noted that “North Korea’s three ICBM launch on May 25 included another ICBM launch. The United States estimates that this is the DPRK’s sixth ICBM launch since early 2022.”
- Since the beginning of the year, the DPRK has launched 23 ballistic missiles and is “actively preparing to conduct nuclear tests.”