North Korea has confirmed the launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that achieved the longest flight time on record for one of its missiles, heightening concerns about advanced weapons development by Pyongyang.
According to authorities in South Korea and Japan, the missile was fired towards the waters off North Korea’s eastern coast. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was present during the launch and issued a warning to adversaries, stating that the test was a necessary military action to inform rivals who have escalated regional tensions and threatened the security of North Korea.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in South Korea reported that the missile was detected around 7:10 a.m. local time (22:10 GMT) and was launched on a “lofted trajectory.” Initial analyses suggest that North Korea may have utilized a newly developed solid-fuel booster for its long-range missiles.
