North Korea’s Nuclear, Missile Programs Remain ‘Serious Threat’ to Security: Pentagon Chief

Then Secretary of Defense Mark Esper testifies before a House Armed Services Committee hearing at Capitol Hill in Washington on July 9, 2020. Michael Reynolds/Pool/Getty Images

WASHINGTON—U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Wednesday said North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs remain a global threat, after Pyongyang’s unveiling of previously unseen intercontinental ballistic missiles at a predawn military parade.

The appearance of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during a weekend parade in North Korea captivated many Western analysts. But officials in South Korea were far more concerned by the display of new multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) and fast, maneuverable short-range missiles that would be ideal for striking targets in the South.