North Korea has introduced a new holiday to commemorate the anniversary of the successful test launch of its Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile last year, according to state media reports on Sunday.
On November 18, 2022, Pyongyang conducted what is believed to be the first full flight test of the Hwasong-17 which has been referred to as the "monster missile" by analysts.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) of North Korea announced on Sunday that the anniversary had been officially designated as a national holiday during a meeting of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly.
KCNA stated, "The establishment of Missile Industry Day marks a special event in our sacred journey of national defence development."
The launch demonstrated to the world that North Korea is a world-class nuclear power with the most potent intercontinental ballistic missile.
North Korea frequently conducts significant weapons tests on important holidays, and South Korea's intelligence agency revealed last week that the country was in the final stages of preparing for a third launch of a military reconnaissance satellite.
Following a failed second attempt in August, Pyongyang initially announced its intention to carry out the third launch in October, although it never materialized.
Throughout this year, North Korea has conducted an unprecedented number of missile tests, disregarding warnings from the United States (US), South Korea, and their allies.
In September, North Korea solidified its status as a nuclear power in its constitution, with leader Kim Jong Un calling for the development of more advanced atomic weapons to counter perceived threats from the US.
