(LEAD) N.K. leader says ICBM launch shows what option he has if U.S. makes wrong decision

(LEAD) N Korea-ICBM launch

(LEAD) N.K. leader says ICBM launch shows what option he has if U.S. makes wrong decision

(ATTN: RECASTS lead; ADDS details throughout)

By Lee Minji

SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korea confirmed Tuesday it test-fired a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) the previous day, with leader Kim Jong-un saying the launch showed what option he would take "when Washington makes a wrong decision."

The missile launch was conducted to "take a powerful warning measure under the grave situation, in which the hostile forces' anti-DPRK military threat ... is getting evermore undisguised and dangerous," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, referring to the North by its official name.

The ICBM flew 1,002.3 kilometers for 4,415 seconds at a maximum altitude of 6,518.2 km before "accurately" hitting the East Sea, the KCNA said.

Kim expressed great satisfaction with the launch, saying it was "a practical demonstration of the actual condition and reliability of the formidable striking capabilities and absolute nuclear war deterrent possessed by the DPRK's armed forces," the KCNA said.

"Noting that it was an occasion to clearly show what action the DPRK has been prepared and what option the DPRK would take when Washington makes a wrong decision against it, he appreciated that the drill once again and strikingly displayed the DPRK's will for toughest counteraction and its overwhelming strength," it said.

Kim also stressed the need for the North to strongly counter the military threats of the enemies "with more offensive actions by adopting a more evolutionary and threatening way when the enemies continue to make a wrong choice," the KCNA said.

On Monday, South Korea's military said the North fired a long-range missile into the East Sea as Seoul and Washington seek closer nuclear cooperation against threats from Pyongyang.

It marked the North's fifth ICBM launch this year and the third Hwasong-18 solid-fuel ICBM launch following those in April and July.

Solid-fuel missiles are faster to shoot and harder to detect ahead of a launch.

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