Ministry of Unification "North Korea's ICBM provocation intends to turn its attention to pressure and dispatch of troops to the U.S."

The Ministry of Unification assessed that North Korea's new intercontinental ballistic missile and ICBM provocations are intended to turn the international community's attention to Russia's dispatch of troops, along with the purpose of pressuring the U.S.

Deputy Spokesperson Kim In-ae said in a regular briefing today, "The launch followed the first disclosure of a uranium enrichment facility in September and a strategic missile base last month."

In addition, it was analyzed that there could be various purposes, such as securing results and military technical demand ahead of the year-end party plenary session.

Kim stressed that North Korea's ballistic missile launch is a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula.