World News

In a notable development, North Korea has successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), marking its first test in almost a year.


The recent missile test was criticized as a blatant violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, risking destabilization of the region.

North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time in almost a year on Thursday.

According to Japan, the missile was launched on a lofted trajectory, reaching an altitude of 7,000 km (4,350 miles). A normal trajectory would give it a potential range of over 15,000 km (9,300 miles), putting the mainland United States within reach.

Sean Savett, a spokesperson for the United States National Security Council, stated in a release that the United States is prepared to take action to safeguard its security as well as that of allies South Korea and Japan.

Savett condemned the ICBM test as “a flagrant violation” of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, needlessly exacerbating tensions and risking destabilization in the region.

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani suggested that the missile could be a new model due to its extended flight time and altitude surpassing previous North Korean tests.

South Korea Joint Chief of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon mentioned plans for “ample” military exercises with the United States and potentially Japan in response.

Lee reported that the missile was launched from a 12-axle mobile launch platform, the largest in South Korea, at a high angle possibly to avoid impacting neighboring countries.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff suggested that North Korea might be testing a new, solid-fueled long-range ballistic missile.

North Korea’s last missile test was nearly a year ago, with the last ICBM being launched in December 2023, known as the Hwasong-18.

Recently, the Pentagon confirmed the deployment of at least 10,000 North Korean troops for training in eastern Russia, raising concerns about potential combat deployment against Ukraine. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated on Oct. 28 in a notice that North Korean troops were in Russia and possibly headed to the Kursk region.

The Associated Press, Reuters, and Catherine Yang contributed to this report.



Source link

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.