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N Korea fires banned missile in longest flight yet | N Korea fires banned missile in longest flight yet |
(about 16 hours later) | |
North Korea has been test-firing long range missiles such as the Hwasong-18, shown in this photograph from 13 July last year | North Korea has been test-firing long range missiles such as the Hwasong-18, shown in this photograph from 13 July last year |
North Korea has fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, which flew for 86 minutes - the longest flight recorded yet - before falling into waters off its east, South Korea and Japan said. | North Korea has fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, which flew for 86 minutes - the longest flight recorded yet - before falling into waters off its east, South Korea and Japan said. |
The ICBM was fired at a sharply-raised angle and reached as high as 7,000km (4,350 miles). This means that it would have covered a further distance if it were launched horizontally. | The ICBM was fired at a sharply-raised angle and reached as high as 7,000km (4,350 miles). This means that it would have covered a further distance if it were launched horizontally. |
Thursday's launch violated UN curbs and came at a time of deteriorating relations between the two Koreas and Pyongyang's increasingly aggressive rhetoric towards Seoul. | Thursday's launch violated UN curbs and came at a time of deteriorating relations between the two Koreas and Pyongyang's increasingly aggressive rhetoric towards Seoul. |
South Korea had also warned on Wednesday that the North was preparing to fire its ICBM close to the US presidential election on 5 November. | South Korea had also warned on Wednesday that the North was preparing to fire its ICBM close to the US presidential election on 5 November. |
Seoul's defence ministry said the test was intended to develop weapons that "fire farther and higher". | Seoul's defence ministry said the test was intended to develop weapons that "fire farther and higher". |
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in a rare same-day report on state media that the launch shows "our will to respond to our enemies" and described it as "appropriate military action". | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in a rare same-day report on state media that the launch shows "our will to respond to our enemies" and described it as "appropriate military action". |
"I affirm that [North Korea] will never change its line of bolstering up its nuclear forces," Kim said. | "I affirm that [North Korea] will never change its line of bolstering up its nuclear forces," Kim said. |
The US called Thursday's launch a "flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions". | The US called Thursday's launch a "flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions". |
"It only demonstrates that [North Korea] continues to prioritise its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes over the well-being of its people," the White House's National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a statement. | "It only demonstrates that [North Korea] continues to prioritise its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes over the well-being of its people," the White House's National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said in a statement. |
South Korea said it would impose fresh sanctions on the North in response to the launch. | South Korea said it would impose fresh sanctions on the North in response to the launch. |
North Korean TV airs ballistic missile launch footage | |
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the launch, which he said were "clear violations of relevant Security Council resolutions", according to his spokesperson. | UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the launch, which he said were "clear violations of relevant Security Council resolutions", according to his spokesperson. |
Earlier, neighbouring China noted it was "concerned". | Earlier, neighbouring China noted it was "concerned". |
Pyongyang last fired an ICBM in December 2023, in defiance of long-standing and crippling UN sanctions. That missile travelled for 73 minutes and covered about 1,000km. | Pyongyang last fired an ICBM in December 2023, in defiance of long-standing and crippling UN sanctions. That missile travelled for 73 minutes and covered about 1,000km. |
North Korea experts believe the launch was aimed at increasing its missiles' payload. | North Korea experts believe the launch was aimed at increasing its missiles' payload. |
Pyongyang has been developing missiles that can "hit the US mainland even if it carries a larger and heavier warhead" or even multiple warheads, said Kim Dong-yup, an assistant professor at the University of North Korean Studies. | Pyongyang has been developing missiles that can "hit the US mainland even if it carries a larger and heavier warhead" or even multiple warheads, said Kim Dong-yup, an assistant professor at the University of North Korean Studies. |
Neighbouring Japan said it monitored Thursday's launch. | Neighbouring Japan said it monitored Thursday's launch. |
South Korean and US officials met after the launch and agreed to "take strong and varied response measures", the South's military said in a statement. | South Korean and US officials met after the launch and agreed to "take strong and varied response measures", the South's military said in a statement. |
"Our military maintains full readiness as we closely share North Korean ballistic information with US and Japanese authorities," it added. | "Our military maintains full readiness as we closely share North Korean ballistic information with US and Japanese authorities," it added. |
Thursday's launch comes after South Korea and US accused North Korea of sending troops to Russia to support Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. | Thursday's launch comes after South Korea and US accused North Korea of sending troops to Russia to support Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. |
The Pentagon estimates that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to train in eastern Russia. A "small number" has been sent to Kursk in Russia's west, with several thousand more on their way, the US said earlier this week. | The Pentagon estimates that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to train in eastern Russia. A "small number" has been sent to Kursk in Russia's west, with several thousand more on their way, the US said earlier this week. |
The alleged presence of North Korean troops in Russia has added to growing concerns over deepening ties between Putin and Kim. | The alleged presence of North Korean troops in Russia has added to growing concerns over deepening ties between Putin and Kim. |
Pyongyang and Moscow have neither confirmed nor denied these allegations. | Pyongyang and Moscow have neither confirmed nor denied these allegations. |
Additional reporting by Hosu Lee and Jake Kwon in Seoul | Additional reporting by Hosu Lee and Jake Kwon in Seoul |