North Korea launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday, the South Korean and Japanese militaries said, in a test just days ahead of the United States presidential election.
The unidentified ICBM was fired from near the North Korean capital city of Pyongyang at 7:11 a.m. local time, and it flew northeastward to the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea in South Korea, where it landed in the water at 8:37 a.m., according to Japan’s defense ministry, as cited in media reports.
It was the longest-ever flight time for one of North Korea‘s missiles, with an airborne time of 86 minutes. The nuclear-capable missile traveled 621 miles and reached a maximum altitude of over 4,349 miles, the highest-ever flight altitude for one of the North’s missiles.
North Korean state media confirmed the launch soon afterward, saying the test aimed to demonstrate the “modernity” and “creditability” of the country’s strategic deterrent.
This is a developing story and will be updated.