Acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan acknowledged North Korea conducted a weapons test on Wednesday, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un bragged about the testing of a “new-type tactical guided weapon” on Wednesday.
Although acting Pentagon spokesperson Charlie Summers refrained from confirming to reporters the test was administered earlier on Thursday, Shanahan said “there was a test” from North Korea.
“The way I’d characterize it is it’s not a ballistic missile,” Shanahan said Thursday, according to media reports.
Shanahan was tight-lipped when pressed on whether a ground or launch test was carried out.
“You could use shoot, launch, test,” Shanahan, a former Boeing executive, said in response. “They’re very synonymous terms.”
Defense Department officials told CNN that U.S. Northern Command and Strategic Command did not spot a missile launch, after state run Korean Central News Agency reported on the incident. Kim was reportedly present to observe the test.
“The development and completion of this weapons system will be a great historic event in strengthening the combat capability of the People’s Army,” Kim said.
“I was often completely moved in admiration at the time of strategic weapons development but seeing this it seems our scientists, engineers and the labor class is truly great,” he said. “If they are willing then no weapon is beyond creation.”
The test marked the first time the rogue regime publicly conducted a weapons test since November 2017.
