Pyongyang carried out an intercontinental ballistic missile launch on Thursday, “the longest ever recorded” in terms of flight time, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defense.
North Korea fired on Thursday, October 31 “long-range ballistic missile”the South Korean military said, Pyongyang's first weapons test since Seoul accused it of sending thousands of troops to Russia. South Korean army “detected a ballistic missile launched from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea at around 7:10 a.m. (10:10 p.m. GMT) today”the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said, using the Korean name for the Sea of Japan. “The ballistic missile is presumed to be a long-range missile launched at a high angle”specified the same source.
The long-range missile fired by North Korea on Thursday belonged to “the class of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM)”assured the Japanese Minister of Defense. Around 22:17 GMT, “North Korea launched at least one ICBM-class ballistic missile from an area near Pyongyang towards the northeast”Gen Nakatani told the press, adding that the flight distance was estimated at around 1,000 kilometers, for a maximum altitude observed at more than 7,000 km.
A little later, Pyongyang confirmed that it had conducted a test «crucial» ballistic missile to strengthen its nuclear deterrence. “The test firing (…) fully meets the objective of informing our rivals (…) of our desire to retaliate”North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said during the launch, according to the North Korean state agency KCNA. The White House immediately denounced “a blatant violation” UN resolutions.
“Longest flight time ever recorded”
The South Korean army had warned the day before that the North, equipped with nuclear weapons, was preparing to test an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), or even to carry out a nuclear test, perhaps before the American presidential election on 5 november. “Our military has raised its alert level and is closely sharing information regarding North Korea's ballistic missile with U.S. and Japanese authorities, maintaining a high level of preparedness.”added the Seoul general staff.
North Korea generally test-fires its most powerful and longest-range missiles on an upward trajectory, that is to say upwards and not outwards, to avoid flying over the neighboring countries. “It was the longest flight time ever recorded (for a North Korean missile, Editor’s note). I think it might be different from a conventional missile.”Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani commented to journalists.
The shooting came just hours after the defense chiefs of the United States and South Korea called on Pyongyang to withdraw its troops from Russia, where Washington says some 10,000 troops have been deployed in preparation for possible action against Ukrainian forces.