N. Korea may launch ICBM in show of strength as Covid surge challenges Kim Jong-un

Kim Jong-un walks next to what state media reports is the 'Hwasong-17' intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on its launch vehicle in this undated photo released on March 25, 2022. - KCNA

SEOUL (Bloomberg): Kim Jong-un may be preparing to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile to coincide with US President Joe Biden’s trip to the region, CNN reported, as the North Korean leader battles a Covid-19 outbreak confronting his regime.

Kim looks to be preparing to test launch an ICBM in the next two to four days, the cable news channel said, citing a US official familiar with the latest intelligence assessment. North Korea’s ICBMs are designed to deliver a nuclear warhead to the US mainland, and the country in March fired one off for the first time in more than four years -- highlighting the feat in a slickly produced video shown on state TV.