North Korea test launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) off its east coast on Oct. 31, just days before the U.S. presidential election, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
“The military detected one ballistic missile launched toward the East Sea from the Pyongyang area around 7:10 a.m. today,” said the JCS, adding that the missile appears to have been a long-range missile fired at a steep angle.
Japan’s Defense Ministry said North Korea fired an ICBM around 7:11 a.m., and it appeared to have fallen into the sea west of Okushiri Island, Hokkaido, at approximately 8:37 a.m., outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. The Defense Ministry stated that the missile flew for an unprecedented 86 minutes, longer than any ballistic missile North Korea has tested to date, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported. Japan’s defense minister, Gen Nakatani, said the missile reached a possible altitude of more than 7,000 km.
North Korea confirmed it fired an ICBM, adding that its leader, Kim Jong-un, had been present at the missile launch. Kim referred to the test as “appropriate military action,” as quoted by the state media Korean Central News Agency.
The North’s missile launch comes after the U.S. and South Korea condemned the country for sending troops to Russia. North Korea recently raised alarms by deploying an estimated 10,000 troops to Russia to join in its aggression against Ukraine.
Pyongyang’s latest ICBM launch is the first weapons test in 43 days since September. Last month, North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles northeastward from the Kaechon area of South Pyongan Province. North Korea’s General Missile Bureau later claimed it had successfully tested a new tactical ballistic missile, the Hwasongpo-11da-4.5, alongside an upgraded strategic cruise missile.
