North Korea tests suspected intercontinental missile

According to Japanese information, it was in the air for 86 minutes and reached an altitude of 7,000 kilometers.

In a test, North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the sea off its east coast. “It is assumed that the North Korean missile is a long-range ballistic missile that was fired at a steep angle,” the South Korean General Staff announced. This would be the first missile test of this kind since December last year.

The missile was launched in the morning (local time) north of the capital Pyongyang, flew on a steep trajectory eastwards towards the open sea and finally crashed into the water, according to the General Staff. The missile covered a trajectory of around 1,000 kilometers.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said they had followed the preparations for the launch in real time with allies in Japan and the USA. In response, “joint exercises involving US strategic resources” would be held.

North Korea confirms test

North Korea confirms the test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). According to the state news agency KCNA, the missile launch broke all previous records, without giving any details. “The dangerous steps of North Korea’s enemies have underlined the need to strengthen our nuclear strength,” KCNA quoted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as saying on the occasion of the test launch. North Korea will never deviate from its course of expanding its nuclear weapons arsenal.

Japan also confirmed the missile test. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said it was a missile from the class of intercontinental ballistic missiles. The missile flew longer than any missile previously tested by North Korea, it said. According to the report, it was in the air for about 86 minutes and reached an altitude of 7,000 kilometers.

The United States condemned the test of an intercontinental ballistic missile “in the strongest possible terms.” “This launch is a blatant violation of several UN Security Council resolutions,” said Sean Savett, spokesman for the National Security Council in Washington.

Tests expected in the run-up to the US election

On Wednesday, South Korean military intelligence had already reported that North Korea was about to test a long-range missile that would be able to reach the United States. The country had positioned a mobile missile launcher in order to possibly test an intercontinental missile in the run-up to the US presidential election on Tuesday.

In addition, Pyongyang had in all probability completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test, it was said. The country last carried out a nuclear test in 2017.

Tensions have recently increased

According to a UN resolution, the isolated country is prohibited from testing ballistic missiles of any range. Tensions on the Korean peninsula have recently increased again after reports emerged that North Korea might send troops to Russia for deployment in Ukraine.

The conflict over North Korea’s weapons programs has become significantly more explosive again after a temporary calm in recent years. The country has tested nuclear-capable missiles and cruise missiles several times since the beginning of 2022. The last test of a North Korean intercontinental missile took place on December 18 last year.