Kim Jong Un directed the launch of the Hwawong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile, say state media

North and South Korea launch missiles 1:09 (CNN) — North Korea’s state media, KCNA, is reporting that a test launch of the new Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile took place on Thursday. KCNA says that on March 23, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued a handwritten order to test launch a new ICBM. Credit: Rodong Sinmun Kim Jong Un directly led the test launch process on the 24th, according to the report. It is the first North Korean ICBM launch since 2017. “The Hwasong-17, an intercontinental ballistic missile launched from Pyongyang International Airport, had a maximum altitude of 6,248.5 km, flew 1,090 km for 4,052 s, and landed with accuracy in predicted waters” between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, KCNA reported.