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July 15, 2023 | 5:33 p.m
Russia is investigating whether a North Korean nuclear bomb was landed in its territorial waters.
KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images
Russia is investigating whether North Korea’s nuclear-armed missile landed in its territorial waters during Wednesday’s test, officials said.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said the country’s Defense Ministry was investigating the launch of the missile, but added that “so far we have no clear information that the missile landed in Russia’s economic zone.”
Russian state media said the test-fire of the Hwasong-18 missile, the centerpiece of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, was a “strong practical” warning to the hermit kingdom’s adversaries, including the United States.
Japan, South Korea and the United States condemned the test launch, while Rudenko said the launch was a reaction to the United States and its allies, saying it “really pushes North Korea to build up its defense forces.”
North Korea has been under a nuclear arms embargo since 2006, when the UN Security Council condemned the country’s first nuclear weapons test and imposed strict sanctions on heavy weapons, missile technology and components, and some luxury goods.
However, the UN The Security Council has been divided over the past several years over how to deal with North Korea’s nuclear capabilities with Russia and China, and sanctions could worsen the situation.
On Thursday, UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Giari said the missile traveled more than 625 miles in about 74 minutes before crashing into waters in Russia’s exclusive economic zone near the border with Japan.
with post wires