Pyongyang, November 1 (KCNA - RSTV)   

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A spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea said in a statement that an ICBM test-fire was conducted on Thursday morning.

The Missile Administration of the DPRK conducted a very crucial test on Thursday. The test-fire, conducted under the order given by the head of state of the DPRK, updated the recent records of the strategic missile capability of the DPRK and demonstrated the modernity and creditability of its world's most powerful strategic deterrent.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said on the spot:

"The test-fire is an appropriate military action that fully meets the purpose of informing the rivals, who have intentionally escalated the regional situation and posed a threat to the security of our Republic recently, of our counteraction will, and it also constitutes an indispensable process in the course of constantly developing our state's strategic attack forces. As recently witnessed by us, the rivals' dangerous tightening of their nuclear alliance and various adventuristic military maneuvers go to further highlight the importance of strengthening our nuclear forces. We should never allow any threat to approach the security sphere under our state's influence. The security situation of our state and ever-aggravating prospective threats and challenges require us to continue to bolster up our modern strategic attack forces and more perfectly round off our nuclear forces' response posture. I affirm that the DPRK will never change its line of bolstering up its nuclear forces."

Crucial Test Demonstrating DPRK's Definite Reaction Will and Absolute Superiority of Its Strategic Strike Capability

Test-fire of DPRK's Latest-type ICBM Hwasongpho-19 Successfully Conducted under Guidance of Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un

The cause of the DPRK reliably defending the regional and global peace and security as a responsible nuclear weapons state and achieving the comprehensive rejuvenation of the country and promoting the well-being of its people is accompanied with vicious challenges of the most hostile and threatening rival states and an ever-growing war crisis.

The most hostile enemies of the DPRK have evolved into a nuclear alliance and the U.S. imperialists and the ROK puppets have recently intensified the frantic arms buildup and provocative attempts at the most serious level in history while often letting loose reckless threatening remarks against the DPRK government. All these are posing a grave danger to the DPRK's sovereignty and security environment and provoking the surging anger and retaliatory will of its army and people.

The present grave reality, seriously reminding people of the instructive law of history that the disrupted balance of forces between friend and foe just leads to a war, more clearly emphasizes the necessity of the absolute power capable of deterring the enemy and controlling the situation at all times and the validity of its steady increase. It also calls for continuously developing and updating the strategic weapons as a deterrent capable of actively coping with any military threat and foiling the enemy's provocative attempt and will for war in advance.

At a time when the strategic option for reliably defending national security and regional peace from the adventurous military manoeuvres of the U.S. and its vassal forces for aggression and the urgency of its powerful implementation are being further highlighted, another new entity has emerged to demonstrate the absolute edge of the DPRK nuclear combat forces rapidly developing with each passing day.

Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, issued an order to the Missile Administration to conduct a test-fire of the latest-type ICBM Hwasongpho-19 and oversaw on the spot the crucial test, which would set an epochal milestone in perpetuating the absolute superiority of the strategic armed forces of the DPRK, on the morning of October 31.

The tremendously powerful absolute weapon, a product of the DPRK's might and spirit which have been steadily augmented for the great dignity and honour of the country and people, for the duty of defending peace and the right to existence that should never be conceded, and for a new world of justice where war, hegemony and injustice are not allowed, advanced to the launching position at dawn, showing signs of new strength the world has never experienced.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, assuming the noblest and heavy mission of firmly safeguarding the sovereignty of the DPRK and its absolute security and rights to development, went to the launch site to learn about the preparations and plan for the test-fire and went to the central command and observation post.

The launch site, prior to the historic moment when the DPRK's new updated ultra-powerful offensive means, an ICBM of ultimate version, would reveal its appearance, was seething with the will of all the defence scientists and strategic missile soldiers to strike terror into the most ferocious enemies keen on nuclear confrontation with the DPRK by demonstrating its war deterrent which has reached the highest level in the world.

The moment has come to display the awesome force of the world's most powerful strategic missile.

When Kim Jong Un approved the test-fire, General Jang Chang Ha, Director General of the Missile Administration, gave an order to the Honoured 2nd Red Flag Company.

The moment, the entity with absolute power lifted off revealing its imposing figure, loaded with the DPRK people's bitter enmity and strong will to punish all evils and injustice on earth and annihilate the enemy.

The missile travelled up to the maximum altitude of 7 687.5km and flew a distance of 1 001.2km for 5 156 seconds before landing on the preset target area in the open waters of the East Sea of Korea.

The test-fire had no negative effect on the security of neighbouring countries.

The test of the ultramodern strategic weapon system updated the latest records of strategic missile capabilities and showed off the modernity and creditability of the world's most powerful strategic deterrent of the DPRK.

On the spot, Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction, saying that the successful test-fire of the new-type ICBM has come to prove before the world that the dominant position the DPRK has secured in the development and manufacture of nuclear delivery means of the same kind is absolutely irreversible.

The perfected weapon system of ICBM Hwasongpho-19, to be used by the strategic forces of the DPRK along with Hwasongpho-18, pursuant to the long-term plan for building the state nuclear forces set forth by the Party Congress, will perform the mission and duty as the primary core means in defending the DPRK, thoroughly deterring the enemies' acts of aggression and reliably protecting national security.

Comrade Kim Jong Un said that the test-fire is an appropriate military action that fully meets the purpose of declaring the DPRK’s counteraction will to the rivals who have recently escalated the regional situation deliberately and posed a threat to its security, and also constitutes an indispensable process in the course of constantly developing its strategic strike forces.

He went on to say:

As we have witnessed these days, the rivals' dangerous moves to strengthen their nuclear alliance and various adventurist military activities further highlight the importance of the buildup of our nuclear forces. We should never allow any threat to approach the sphere of influence of our national security.

The security situation of our state and the ever-growing prospective threats and challenges require us to continue to bolster up our modern strategic strike forces and more perfectly round off our nuclear response posture.

He clearly reaffirmed that the DPRK would never change its line of bolstering up its nuclear forces under any circumstances.

On behalf of the Party, the government and all the Korean people, he gave the highest thanks to the defence scientists and the munitions workers for their distinguished contribution to fully demonstrating the DPRK's matchless strategic nuclear strike capability to the whole world.

He once again stressed that only the peace that can be defended by the strength great enough to control and deter the enemy is the reliable, secure and durable peace and herein lies a sure guarantee for the peace and future of the DPRK and its people. And he clarified important tasks to be constantly tackled by the defence science field in implementing the line of bolstering up the state nuclear forces.

Expressing expectation and belief that the defence science and technology group, always faithful and absolute in fulfilling the demand of the revolution, would achieve better defence development successes and thus always remain faithful to the sacred obligation and duty, he had a photo session with the masters of this great event at the historic site where the absolute prestige of the state was lifted once again. 

All the defence scientists and strategic missile soldiers vowed to devote themselves with redoubled courage to the sacred struggle for building up the arsenal of the Juche revolution into an invincible one and strengthening the state's nuclear response posture.