North Korea’s test could send an intercontinental ballistic missile farther than ever before

North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time in over a year on Thursday, marking a step toward being able to launch a long-range nuclear attack on the US mainland.

The launch was aimed at attracting US attention days before the November 5 election and in response to allegations of North American troops being sent to Russia to support its war in Ukraine. Some experts speculated that Russia may have provided technical assistance to North Korea during the launch.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un witnessed the launch, calling it a “correct military action” to show his country’s determination to respond to its enemies’ moves that threaten the North’s security, according to North Korean state media.

Kim said the adversaries’ “diverse military methods” highlight the importance of North Korea’s nuclear capability. He also confirmed that North Korea will never give up its goal of strengthening its nuclear forces.

North Korea has strongly denied that developing its nuclear capabilities is the only way to deal with increased US-South Korean military training, although Washington and Seoul have repeatedly said they have no intention of attacking North Korea. Experts say North Korea is using its rivals’ training as an excuse to expand its nuclear arsenal so that it can bypass agreements when talks resume.

Expanding cooperation with Russia

North Korea’s statement came hours after neighbors said they had detected the North’s first ICBM test since December 2023, condemning it as a sign of conflict that could undermine world peace.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea may have tested a long-range ballistic missile that had been melted down in an attempt to avoid neighboring countries. Missiles with built-in solid propellants are easier to maneuver and conceal and can be launched faster than liquid-propellant weapons.

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters that the missile’s flight duration of 86 minutes and its altitude of more than 7,000 kilometers surpassed the same data of North Korea’s missile tests.

Having a missile fly higher and longer than before means its engine has improved. Given that previous ICBM tests by North Korea have already proven that they can reach the US mainland, the latest launch may be related to an attempt to test whether the missile can carry a large warhead, experts said.

Kwon Yong Soo, professor emeritus at South Korea’s National Defense University, said it is possible that North Korea could test a multi-warhead system for an existing ICBM.

“There is no reason for North Korea to develop another new ICBM when it already has many systems with a range of 10,000 to 15,000 kilometers that can reach anywhere on Earth,” Kwon said.

North Korea has made advances in its missile technology in recent years, but many foreign experts believe that the country still lacks a nuclear-capable missile capable of striking the US mainland. They say North Korea may have short-range missiles that could deliver nuclear strikes across South Korea.

There have been concerns that North Korea may seek Russia’s help to develop nuclear-capable missiles in return for allegedly sending thousands of troops to support Russia’s war with Ukraine. Jung speculates that Russian experts may have provided technical advice on missile launches since Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea for a meeting with Kim in June.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday that North Korean soldiers wearing Russian uniforms and carrying Russian equipment are heading towards Ukraine, in what he called a dangerous and destabilizing development.

North Korea’s confirmation of the ICBM test was unusually quick, as North Korea often explains its weapons tests a day after they took place.

The test comes as US, South Korean officials meet

US National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett called the launch a “flagrant violation” of several UN Security Council resolutions that “unnecessarily raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region.” Savett said the US will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the US and its allies in South Korea and Japan.

The deployment of up to 12,000 North Korean troops to Russia has been a key topic as US and South Korean leaders meet in Washington this week.

Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other US officials will hold talks on Thursday with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Wednesday that up to 4,500 North Korean troops are expected to be at the border this week and start participating directly in the fight against Ukrainian forces. in November.

North Korea has also supplied weapons to Russia, and earlier this month, the White House released photos of North Korea shipping 1,000 containers of military equipment there by train.