North Korea has introduced a new holiday to mark the anniversary of the successful test fire of its Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) last year, North Korea’s state agency KCNA said on Sunday.
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On November 18, 2022, Pyongyang conducted what is believed to be the first full flight test of the Hwasong-17, which military analysts have dubbed a “monster missile.”
The anniversary was declared a holiday at a meeting of the Supreme People’s Assembly, KCNA reported on Sunday.
“The establishment of Missile Industry Day marks a special event in our sacred path of national defense development,” she added.
With this launch, North Korea “showed the world the majesty of a world-class nuclear power and the nation that has the most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile,” the agency said.
North Korea often conducts major weapons tests on holidays, and South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said last week that the country was close to preparing a third satellite launch for military recognition.
After the second attempt failed in August, Pyongyang announced it would conduct a third launch in October, but it never materialized.
Analysts say there is significant technological overlap between space launch capabilities and the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles, which Pyongyang is banned from using under multiple United Nations sanctions.
North Korea has carried out a record number of weapons tests this year despite international sanctions. In September, it also incorporated its status as a nuclear power into its constitution.