SEOUL: North Korea announced on Thursday that it successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), enhancing what it describes as the “world’s most powerful strategic weapon.” This launch comes amid warnings from South Korea that Pyongyang may receive missile technology from Russia in exchange for support in the Ukraine conflict.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test, stating that it serves as a warning to adversaries threatening the nation’s security. According to the state news agency KCNA, Kim characterized the test-fire as an “appropriate military action” aimed at informing rivals of North Korea’s readiness to counter perceived escalations in regional tensions.
This display of military strength occurs against a backdrop of increasing international concern regarding North Korea’s troop deployments to Russia reportedly involving around 11,000 personnel, including 3,000 near the frontlines in Ukraine. The missile launch drew swift condemnation from South Korea, Japan, and the United States.
Just a day prior, South Korean officials noted indications that North Korea might test-launch an ICBM or conduct a seventh nuclear test around the upcoming U.S. presidential election, seeking to assert its military capabilities on the global stage.
Shin Seung-ki, head of military research at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, suggested that the recent launch likely aimed to assess enhanced booster performance for an existing ICBM, potentially with assistance from Russia. He indicated that such collaboration could expedite improvements in missile performance while reducing costs.
The early Thursday launch marked North Korea’s longest ballistic missile test to date, with a flight duration of 87 minutes. KCNA reported that the test set new records for missile capabilities. The missile was launched from near the North’s capital and splashed down approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Japan’s Okushiri Island, reaching an altitude of 7,000 kilometers and covering a distance of 1,000 kilometers.
The lofted trajectory employed during the test allows for assessments of thrust and stability over shorter distances, mitigating risks associated with longer-range flights and the political fallout of overflying the Pacific.
North Korea’s previous ICBM, the Hwasong-18, was tested in December 2022 and demonstrated the potential to reach the mainland United States, with a theoretical range of 15,000 kilometers (9,300 miles) on a standard trajectory.
The latest missile test came just hours after U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun met in Washington to condemn North Korea’s military collaboration with Russia. While neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has explicitly acknowledged the troop deployment, Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia recently questioned why allies like North Korea could not assist Moscow in Ukraine, paralleling Western support for Kyiv.
South Korean officials have labeled the North’s troop deployment a direct threat to regional security, expressing concerns that North Korea may gain valuable combat experience and potentially receive “technology transfers” from Russia in critical military areas, including tactical nuclear weapons, ICBMs, ballistic missile submarines, and reconnaissance satellites.
