New findings have revealed a fascinating development about a failed N. Korea missile test from last year. Previously it was known that the North Koreans had launched the Hwasong-12 immediate-range ballistic missile in April and that it had failed just after take-off and crashed not far out of Pyongyang.
However, reporters can now confirm that the missile didn’t just crash in the middle of nowhere. It actually flew 29 miles and struck Tokchon, a very populated city. Satellite photos confirm that the missile struck an agricultural plant not far from a populated centre with apartment buildings and shops.
It’s known that the missile would have caused a large explosion—although not a nuclear one—but no one can tell if it also caused casualties.
North Korea has dominated headlines over the last twelve months because of the escalation between it and the US’ rhetoric regarding conflict. North Korea is in possession of nuclear weaponry that they claim could hit the US mainland. A prospect that greatly increases the chance of nuclear war. However, while many experts often like to remind us that the chance of an actual war is very small, this incident does serve as a reminder that there are other ways North Korea’s nuclear programme can do damage.
There is always the chance they might hit something by accident! If not someone else, then at the very least this incident shows that they could seriously hurt their own citizens. It was only last year that North Korea launched a missile over Japan – just imagine if it had gone wrong in the same way this particular launch had.
That’s some serious cause for concern.
