North Korea close to developing ICBM that can hit US with nuclear weapon, South Korea’s Lee says

SEOUL – North Korea is in the last stage of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile that could hit the United States with a nuclear weapon, though it has yet to master re-entry technology, South Korea’s president said on Sept 25.

President Lee Jae Myung, who is visiting New York for the United Nations General Assembly, hosted an investor relations session on Sept 25 at the New York Stock Exchange. He pledged to reduce security risks linked to North Korea in order to draw more investments and spur the economy.

“Whether for negotiations with the US, or for their own regime, they are continuing to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States, carrying a nuclear bomb and bombing the United States,” Mr Lee said.

“It appears they haven’t achieved success yet, but they are in the final stage, only with the so-called atmospheric re-entry technology left. That, too, is likely to be resolved soon,” the South Korean leader said.

In 2024, North Korea launched its largest intercontinental ballistic missile yet, the Hwasong-19, which flew deep into space. Experts have said such missiles are capable of hitting any target in the US, although North Korea’s ability to guide the missile and protect a warhead as it re-enters the atmosphere is still in doubt.

Mr Lee reiterated US President Donald Trump would be the “only” person that can be a negotiating counterpart for North Korea. Mr Trump said in August he wanted to meet North Korea’s leader, Mr Kim Jong Un, possibly as soon as this year.

The South Korean leader who took office in June has been seeking to improve strained relations with Pyongyang and has proposed dialogue between the two Koreas, but North Korea has rejected such calls.

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