White House building in Washington DC. File photoWASHINGTON, Mar 11 The US has concluded that North Korea tested a «relatively new» ICBM in February and March and considers it a «major escalation,» a senior US administration official told reporters .According to him, during the launches, which were recorded on February 26 and March 4, the operation of individual components of the new system was probably tested and its capabilities in the complex, including range, were not demonstrated. «After a thorough analysis, the US authorities came to the conclusion that in Two missile tests conducted by the DPRK on February 26 and March 4 of this year involved a relatively new intercontinental ballistic missile system… This is a major escalation by the DPRK,» the official said. «Unlike the three North Korean ICBM tests in 2017, the launches this time they did not demonstrate the range and other characteristics of ICBMs.They were probably intended to test elements of the new system,” he added. In the United States, according to an administration official, it is expected that North Korea may conduct full-range tests of the missile in the future. He added that the United States condemns the launches, considering them a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a factor in destabilizing the regional situation. media reported
