North Korea conducted a ground ejection test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile last week, according to a U.S. website.
Quoting U.S. defense officials, the Washington Free Beacon on Tuesday reported that the test on March 16 "involved a 'pop-up' or 'ejection test' of the developmental SLBM from a canister ashore at the Sinpo shipyard… on North Korea's east coast" where it is being developed.
The test, the first since the UN unanimously passed powerful sanctions against the North on March 2, violates UN Security Council Resolution 2270 aimed at deterring the North from continuing nuclear and missile development.
| The UNSC will, of course, be all over this... |
The North also conducted a test of the missile from a submarine in waters near Sinpo on Dec. 21 last year, which the website reported on Jan. 5. The test failed.
The rocket is apparently an improved version of the Russian-made SS-N-6.
The North would need to miniaturize a nuclear warhead to 500-600 kg to mount it on a submarine-launched missile. |