North Korea has reported conducting an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, timed just before elections in Tokyo and Seoul. This missile test, which North Korean authorities describe as targeting the aspirations of the younger generation for extended flight capabilities, took place shortly before the U.S. presidential election and amid South Korean intelligence reports of potential North Korean plans to test ICBM reentry technology.
The missile launch occurred as North Korea seemed to be increasing its nuclear production, with heightened concerns in the West regarding North Korea’s actions, especially considering Russia’s recent ties with Pyongyang.
The missile was reportedly launched at a high” elevation angle,” meaning it followed a steep, vertical trajectory. It covered approximately 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) across South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) estimated target area.
Japanese officials stated the missile flew for an unprecedented 86 minutes, achieving an altitude of around 7,000 kilometres (4,350 miles) before landing in waters west of Okushiri Island, north of Hokkaido, near Japan’s economic zone. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani commented that this flight duration and altitude set records, indicating the missile might be North Korea’s most sophisticated.
South Korea’s JCS, represented by Lee Sun-Joon, speculated that this might have been a new, solid-fuel, long-range ballistic missile, possibly launched from a mobile launcher. Solid-fuel missiles, like North Korea’s Hwasong-18, allow quicker deployment than liquid-fueled missiles, which take more time to prepare, giving adversaries less time to detect and intercept.
Photos taken in Pyongyang in June 2024 showed Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un together. Experts note that solid-fuel ICBMs are more manoeuvrable, allowing them to evade detection and launch faster than liquid-fuel options. This makes them a serious strategic asset for North Korea.
North Korean state media emphasized that this test underscored the”modernity and credibility ” of North Korea’s advanced missile capabilities. Leader Kim Jong Un was reportedly present, observing what the media described as a”military demonstration.” If confirmed, This ICBM launch would be North Korea’s first since its Hwasong-18 test in December 2023, following earlier launches in April and July of the same year.
In December, Japanese authorities reported that a North Korean missile flew for 73 minutes at an altitude of 6,000 kilometres (3,700 miles). This new test suggests that the latest missile is even larger and more advanced than previous ICBMs.
North Korea’s actions have led U.S. officials to voice strong condemnation. The White House described the launch as a”clear violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.” National Security Council Director Sean Savitt stated that North Korea’s actions “unnecessarily raise tension” and assured that the U.S. would take”all necessary steps” to secure its allies in South Korea and Japan.
Following the missile launch, South Korea and the U.S. conducted joint air exercises involving 110 flights, simulating a” precision attack” as part of South Korea’s defence strategy. The South Korean Ministry of Defense reiterated that its armed forces remain in a high state of readiness against any North Korean provocations.
Meanwhile, Kim Jong Un reaffirmed North Korea’s commitment to bolstering its nuclear capabilities, according to state media reports from the Korean Central News Agency. North Korea’s military Intelligence Agency also announced the likelihood of seven additional nuclear tests shortly.
