North Korea has launched a long-range missile that could theoretically reach the US mainland, signaling defiance as global concerns rise about its troops’ involvement in Ukraine.
US officials believe Thursday’s launch was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), though the specific basis for this assessment wasn’t provided. Japan’s defense minister noted this test exceeded previous North Korean launches in altitude and duration.
Kim Jong-un defended the launch as a “necessary military measure” against alleged US and allied threats, according to state media KCNA. Reportedly present for the launch, Kim affirmed North Korea’s commitment to expanding its nuclear arsenal, KCNA added.
In response, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency cited military sources indicating that the US might deploy “strategic assets” — likely advanced conventional and nuclear capabilities — as a countermeasure to the missile test.
South Korea announced new export controls on materials for solid-fuel missiles, aiming to curb North Korea’s weapons development. The restrictions cover 15 items, including components like fuselages, which North Korea cannot readily produce.
Details on the missile remain limited. Japan reported it reached a peak altitude of over 7,000 km — a record — and maintained flight for an unprecedented 1 hour and 26 minutes.
To avoid provoking neighboring countries, North Korea launches long-range missiles on high-angle trajectories.
Japan’s defense ministry reported that the missile splashed down around 8:36 a.m. outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Launched near Pyongyang at 7:10 a.m., it landed about 300 km west of Hokkaido’s Okushiri island, with no reported damage.
US National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett condemned North Korea’s “illegal weapons programs,” stating that the US is committed to protecting itself and its allies in South Korea and Japan.
If verified, this would be North Korea’s first ICBM test since December 2023, when it launched the solid-fuel Hwasong-18, which has advantages in mobility, concealment, and readiness over liquid-fuel missiles.
South Korean intelligence briefed lawmakers on Wednesday about possible preparations in North Korea for a US-targeted missile test and a potential seventh nuclear test.
Experts think North Korea has short-range nuclear capabilities against South Korea but doubt its claims of miniaturized warheads for long-range missiles.
The launch came days before US elections, a time when North Korea has previously used such provocations to gain attention.
With the Ukraine war ongoing, Kim’s weapons initiatives are reportedly encouraged. An estimated 10,000 North Korean soldiers are believed to have been stationed in Russia, potentially for deployment to Ukraine. South Korea reported that over 3,000 troops have moved closer to Western Russian battlefields.
In addition, Pyongyang has supplied ammunition and missiles to Russia under a mutual defense agreement between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This week, US and South Korean defense leaders urged North Korea to withdraw its troops from Russia, while UN envoy Robert Wood cautioned that North Korean troops in Ukraine could face significant losses.
