World Bulletin / News Desk
Pyongyang celebrated its July 4 launch as a “gift” for the United States on American Independence Day, having repeatedly warned of a strike on the U.S. mainland.
But Seoul’s intelligence agency has found no evidence for the North’s assertion that it can actually pose a threat with an ICBM just yet.
“The late-stage guidance technology, which is used to get the missile to precisely hit the target, is not yet fully developed because you would have to have the re-entry technology first,” lawmaker Yi Wan-young was quoted as telling reporters on Tuesday by The Korea Herald, after being briefed by the NIS.
“Given that it does not have a related testing facility, it appears to have not yet secured the technology,” Yi added, based on the agency’s findings.
While the NIS still sees North Korea’s latest test from a fixed -- rather than mobile -- launcher as pursuing re-entry technology, the agency also cautioned that Pyongyang could order its sixth-ever nuclear test at any moment.
The North faces extra sanctions following last Tuesday’s test, while a further provocation could lead to even greater global pressure to denuclearize.
