PYONGYANG: North Korea has fired a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), South Korean and Japanese officials report.
According to BBC News, the long-range missile flew for more than an hour before landing short of Japanese waters Wednesday morning. Pyongyang’s launch comes after it threatened retaliation against what it said were recent US spy plane sorties over its territory.
Earlier this week, Pyongyang threatened to shoot down such planes. On the other hand, Washington has refuted the accusations, saying its military patrols are in line with international law.
What missiles does North Korea have?
Security tensions have increased on the peninsula this year after a flurry of missile activity from North Korea.
The United States and South Korea have increased joint military drills in the area, in response to Pyongyang’s multiple launches and pledges to enhance its weapons development. The country conducted dozens of launches in 2023 including a spy satellite, which failed.
In April 2023, it also claimed to have tested its “most powerful” missile to date, a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile which is said to be easier to launch than a liquid-fueled version.
Today in the morning, military officials from both Japanese and South Korean militaries reported Pyongyang’s missile launch. While it was still flying at the time of filing of this report, the authorities determined it to be a long-range missile.
The Japanese Coast Guard reported the missile flew eastwards from capital Pyongyang more than an hour before landing in the sea around 11:15 Japan time.
North Korea last test-fired ballistic missiles in mid-June in response to joint United States and South Korean military drills. However, it also test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile in February. These missiles are particularly worrying because of their long-range, including mainland United States.
When Pyongyang tested one in November 2022, the ICBM was fired at a high-angle, short-range trajectory. But this could have reached the United States mainland if it had been fired at a lower trajectory, the Japanese authorities stated at that time.
