News > North Korea's‘ monster missile’ test was a lie. Here’s why

North Korea's‘ monster missile’ test was a lie. Here’s why

North Korea faked a “successful” launch of its most powerful long-range missile to shore up domestic support for Kim Jong Un’s regime after the real test ended in failure, analysts say.

State media trumpeted the “miraculous” launch of what it claimed was a new Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile on 24 March, publishing dramatic photos and videos of leader Kim personally overseeing the test.