N. Korea conducts intercontinental balistic missile test, after troops deployed in Russia
A man watches a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on October 31, 2024. (AFP Photo)
North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile early Thursday, marking its 12th missile test of the year, according to Japanese government officials. The missile, identified as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) class, was detected by Japan’s Defense Ministry, which said it flew for one hour and 26 minutes, landing outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), west of Okushiri Island.
The missile was fired from North Korea’s interior at 7:11 a.m. local time (10:11 p.m. GMT Wednesday), reaching an altitude of over 7,000 kilometers (4,349 miles) and covering a distance of approximately 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), NHK News reported. The launch utilized a lofted trajectory—a steep, near-vertical angle frequently employed by Pyongyang to avoid overflying neighboring nations.
Following the incident, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced an emergency meeting of the National Security Council. The Japanese Coast Guard confirmed there were no immediate reports of damage to ships or planes in the area, while South Korean military authorities also detected the launch, indicating it likely originated near Pyongyang.
This test is North Korea’s first since a series of short-range missile launches on September 18. The South Korean military had warned Wednesday that a potential ICBM test could be forthcoming, amid heightened regional tensions.
The United States responded with strong condemnation, calling the launch a “flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.” Sean Savett, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, stated that while the missile posed no direct threat to U.S. personnel or allies, it “needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region.” Savett urged all nations to denounce North Korea’s actions and called on Pyongyang to “cease its destabilizing actions and engage in serious dialogue.”
The missile launch also follows reports of North Korean troops reportedly being deployed to Russia, a move that has been met with condemnation from South Korea, the United States, and NATO, further fueling security concerns across the region.
