North Korea could build its largest missile ever on Kim Jong-un's orders

Mr Kim is believed to have ordered the production of the largest missile ever and is capable of re-entering the atmosphere for a test launch in September 2018.

North Korea's Unha-3 long-range ballistic missile. Photo: KCNA.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently ordered the military to develop a ballistic missile capable of re-entering the atmosphere.largest ever to be ready for launch in September 2018, the newspaperAsahi ShimbunJapan today cited information from North Korean defectors.

According to this source, Mr. Kim's request to develop new missiles was made at the 8th conference on the weapons industry taking place on December 11 and 12 in Pyongyang to review "achievements and experiences" and discuss "measures to open a prosperous period" for the country's defense industry.

The North Korean leader's plan may be to prepare for a launch on September 9, 2018, to mark the 70th anniversary of his country's founding.

Pyongyang's new missile is likely larger than the Unha-3 long-range ballistic missile, which is up to 30 meters long and was used by Pyongyang to launch satellites into space in December 2012 and February 2016.

The source confirmed that the new rocket is expected to be named Unha-4,Production of the missile's body has been completed, but it will take North Korea about six more months to make launch preparations.

Earlier, North Korea confirmed that it was planning to launch a new rocket to put a satellite into space. The Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the Korean Workers' Party, published an article on December 25 reaffirming that developing space technology and launching satellites is Pyongyang's legitimate right.

However, information provided by defectors suggests that North Korea's launch of a new long-range missile could be aimed at testing the missile's re-entry capability as well as sending a satellite into space to monitor other future tests.

According to VNE