SEOUL, South Korea— North Korea launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile Thursday, its first test of a weapon designed to target the US mainland in nearly a year and coming just days before the US election. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the missile test and was present at the launch site, calling it “an appropriate military action” to demonstrate North Korea’s determination to respond to its enemies’ measures that have threatened the North’s safety, according to the Defence Ministry. The United States, South Korea, and Japan had all identified the weapon as an ICBM and condemned the launch for raising tensions.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea may have tested a new long-range ballistic missile powered by solid fuel. Missiles with solid propellants are easier to transport and conceal, and they can be launched faster than liquid-propelled missiles. According to JCS spokesperson Lee Sung Joon, the launch may have been planned to coincide with the United States’ election in order to increase North Korea’s future bargaining power. He claimed the North Korean missile was launched from a high angle, presumably to avoid neighbouring countries. Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters that the missile’s flight time of 86 minutes and maximum altitude of more than 7,000 kilometres (4,350 miles) topped previous North Korean missile tests. Lee, the South Korean military spokesperson, stated that South Korea possesses a similar

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea may have tested a new long-range ballistic missile using solid fuel. Solid propellant missiles are easier to pack and conceal, and they can be launched more quickly than liquid-propelled missiles. According to JCS spokesperson Lee Sung Joon, the launch could have been timed to coincide with the US election in order to strengthen North Korea’s future bargaining position. He claimed that the North Korean missile was launched from a high angle, likely to avoid surrounding countries. Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters that the missile’s flight period of 86 minutes and maximum altitude of almost 7,000 kilometres (4,350 miles) surpassed previous North Korean missile tests. Lee, South Korea’s military spokesperson, stated

South Korea and Japan both criticised North Korea’s launch as a threat to international peace, and they stated that they are closely collaborating with the United States on the latest North Korean nuclear test. Lee stated that South Korea and the United States intend to conduct “sufficient” bilateral military exercises, as well as trilateral ones with Japan, in response to North Korean threats.

Lee stated that a high-angle launch like Thursday’s test cannot analyse a missile’s reentry vehicle technology. He stated that further investigation is needed to determine why North Korea did not undertake a standard-trajectory launch on Thursday. South Korea’s military intelligence agency informed legislators on Wednesday that North Korea was close to testing a long-range missile capable of reaching the United States and had likely completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test. North Korea last tested an intercontinental ballistic missile in December 2023, with the launch of the solid-fueled Hwasong-18.

Over the last two years, Kim has embraced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an opportunity to increase weapons testing and threats while simultaneously boosting military relations with Moscow. South Korea, the United States, and others have recently accused North Korea of sending thousands of troops to back Russia’s military effort against Ukraine. They claim North Korea has already transported artillery, missiles, and other convectional weapons to Russia.

Over the last two years, Kim has used Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an opportunity to intensify weapons tests and threats while also strengthening military ties with Moscow. South Korea, the United States, and others recently accused North Korea of deploying thousands of troops to support Russia’s military campaign against Ukraine. They allege that North Korea has already sent artillery, missiles, and other convectional weapons to Russia.

Austin appeared at a news conference in Washington alongside South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Last week, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol highlighted the prospect of supplying Ukraine with weaponry, emphasising that his government “won’t sit idle” in response to North Korea’s reported troop despatch. South Korea warned Wednesday that North Korea has transferred more than 11,000 troops to Russia, with more than 3,000 of them being moved near battlefields in western Russia.