North Korea Test-Fires Suspected Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile
US Warns North Korea Can Use Gene-Editing Tech for Military Bioweapons
By Shreyas Reddy | April 16, 2024
SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea's military says North Korea has test-fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile towards waters off its eastern coast.
The launch, which took place on Thursday morning, marks the latest in a series of missile tests conducted by North Korea in recent months, raising concerns about the country's nuclear and missile capabilities.
The missile flew approximately 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) before landing in the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
The United States condemned the launch, saying it violated UN Security Council resolutions and posed a threat to regional stability.
"We call on North Korea to cease its provocative actions and engage in meaningful dialogue with the international community," US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.
The launch comes amid growing concerns about North Korea's military capabilities, including its potential use of gene-editing technology to develop military bioweapons.
In a recent report, the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) warned that North Korea could be using gene-editing techniques to enhance the potency and lethality of its biological weapons program.
"North Korea has a long history of using chemical and biological weapons, and it is possible that they are now exploring the use of gene-editing to enhance the capabilities of these weapons," the DIA report said.
Experts say that gene-editing technology could allow North Korea to create new strains of viruses and bacteria that are more resistant to existing treatments and vaccines.
"The use of gene-editing for military purposes is a serious threat to global security," said Dr. Filippa Lentzos, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
"North Korea is one of a number of countries that are exploring the use of this technology for military applications, and it is important that the international community takes steps to counter this threat," she said.
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