North Korea asserted that it successfully test-fired the Hwaseong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on March 16, according to a radio broadcast identified as Voice of Korea.
Proponents of the North say the peninsula endures the most unstable situation in decades due to large-scale military drills described as provocative and aggressive by the United States and its allies. In that context, the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea reportedly authorized the March 16 launch as a training exercise involving the Hwaseong-17 ICBM series.
Officials noted that Kim Jong-un reportedly oversaw the ICBM drill from the highest level of leadership.
In contrast, South Korean sources, including Yonhap News Agency, claimed North Korea had launched a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan. The launch was also reported by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, which noted that no damage to ships or aircraft occurred in the area where the missile descended. Attribution: Yonhap News Agency
Following the event, South Korea announced it would convene its National Security Council to address North Korea’s missile activity. New footage circulating online allegedly shows a North Korean flight path captured from a Japanese F-15 fighter aircraft, highlighting the broader regional scrutiny and concern around such tests. Attribution: Defense and security briefings