North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile on Wednesday in the direction of the Sea of Japan, adding to the recent increased geopolitical tensions in the area.
The missile launch comes as the communist country on the Korean Peninsula has increased its military activity in recent days. First, reports surfaced that North Korean troops had entered Russia and were preparing to aid the country in its war with Ukraine. Then, there were reports that several thousand North Korean troops were dispatched to the Kursk region of Russia along the Russia-Ukraine border that is occupied by Ukrainian forces.
On Tuesday, South Korean officials relayed that North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jong Un, was making preparations to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile, according to multiple reports. On Wednesday, there was confirmation that North Korea had launched an ICBM toward Japan. The ICBM was reportedly launched at 7:10 a.m. from Pyongyang and traveled in the air for 87 minutes — a record time for any missile launched by North Korea.
“It is believed the North Korean ballistic missile is a long-range ballistic missile fired at a high angle,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff reported in a released statement.
There was no damage or casualties from the launch.
However, North Korea may not be finished with its missile tests. Intelligence officials from South Korea claimed North Korea could conduct another ICBM launch next Tuesday, the day of the United States’s presidential election.
The U.S. and the National Security Council condemned the missile test with a statement on Wednesday.
“The United States strongly condemns the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) intercontinental ballistic missile test,” NSC spokesman Sean Savett said. “This launch is a flagrant violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. While U.S. INDOPACOM has assessed it did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, or territory, or to our allies, this launch needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region.”
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“It only demonstrates that the DPRK continues to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs over the well-being of its people,” Savett added.
“We urge all countries to condemn these violations and call on the DPRK to cease its destabilizing actions and engage in serious dialogue,” he said. “The national security team is closely coordinating with our allies and partners. The United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and Republic of Korea and Japanese allies.”
