North Korea conducts test of new intercontinental ballistic missile

PYONGYANG: North Korea announced that it successfully tested its latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-19, aimed at showing off its military might.

The missile reportedly achieved an altitude of 7,687 kilometres (km) and covered a distance of over 1,000 km in 5,156 seconds.

Read more: North Korea long-range ballistic missile test splashes down between Japan and Russia

Similarly, on Thursday, the pariah state launched a long-range ballistic missile into the sea off its eastern coast.

The followed earlier reports indicating that North Korea was preparing for an intercontinental ballistic missile launch.

The ICBM landed almost 300 km west near the Japanese island of Okushiri, but outside the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Japan condemned the launch, deeming it a threat to its national security.

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The last intercontinental ballistic missile fired by North Korea was last year when it fired a solid-propellant missile launched from a mobile platform.

The test alarmed United States and its allies as its reported range was 15,000 km; enough distanced to reach mainland United States.

Read more: US expects North Korea troops to enter fight against Ukraine soon

North Korea also courted controversy for reportedly sending its troops fight in Ukraine-Russia War. As many as 10,000 troops reportedly left North Korea to fight in Ukraine.

According to US and Ukrainian sources, several troops were already spotted in Kursk, where Ukrainian troops incurred into Russian territory.