Last week, ROK and the U.S. criticized the
past two launches as the new ICBM system tests ahead of a full-range launch.
They dismissed the North’s claim that they were meant to develop a “reconnaissance
satellite.”
“At this point, our assessment is that the
projectile launch appears to have been botched as it failed to reach a certain
altitude in its early boost phase,” a JCS official was quoted as saying by
Yonhap. “The United States will continue to take all necessary measures to
ensure the security of the U.S. homeland and our allies,” the U.S. Indo-Pacific
Command said in a press release. “The U.S. commitment to the defence of the ROK
and Japan remains ironclad.”
