Seoul (Reuters) - North Korea announced on April 14th that it had tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is expected to enhance its military capabilities. The test was guided by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who warned that the development would make enemies experience a "clearer security crisis" and urged them to abandon their "senseless thinking and reckless acts."

The use of solid propellants in an intermediate-range or intercontinental ballistic missile allows for missiles to be deployed faster during a war, experts noted. South Korea's defense ministry stated that North Korea was still developing the weapon and would need more time and effort to master the technology, indicating that more tests might be carried out.

Photos released by North Korean state media showed Kim watching the launch with his wife, sister, and daughter, and the missile covered in camouflage nets on a mobile launcher. A state media video showed the Hwasong-18 missile blasting off from a launch tube and creating a cloud of smoke.