North Korea’s Longest Missile Test Raises Global Tensions Amid U.S. Election

North Korea confirmed on Thursday that it had conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, marking what is believed to be the longest flight duration for a North Korean missile to date. This test comes just days before the United States presidential election and follows warnings from South Korea’s intelligence agency, which had cautioned that Pyongyang was planning a missile test around this time to showcase its reentry technology.

In addition to heightening international concern, North Korea has intensified its nuclear production efforts and strengthened its ties with Russia, further alarming Western nations over its expanding military ambitions.

The missile was launched in a nearly vertical “lofted” trajectory, reaching a distance of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Japan’s Defense Ministry reported a record-breaking flight time of 86 minutes, reaching an altitude of 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles), before landing in the sea west of Okushiri Island in northern Japan.

"This was the longest flight yet—a possible new missile model," stated Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani.

The JCS spokesperson in Seoul, Lee Sung-joon, suggested that the missile could have been a new type of solid-fueled, long-range missile fired from a 12-axis mobile launcher revealed last month by North Korea. Solid-fueled ICBMs, such as North Korea’s Hwasong-18, provide a strategic advantage by allowing for quicker, more concealed launches compared to liquid-fueled technology, which requires longer preparation times, increasing the risk of detection.

North Korean state media hailed the launch as a testament to the "modernity and credibility of the world’s most powerful strategic deterrent,” while leader Kim Jong Un, reportedly present at the launch, described it as “appropriate military action.” If confirmed as an ICBM, it would mark North Korea’s first ICBM launch since the Hwasong-18 test in December 2023, a missile also tested in April and July of last year.

Thursday’s missile demonstrated the range necessary to potentially strike any point in the United States, although a flatter trajectory would be needed to cover such a distance directly. The White House swiftly condemned the test, with National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett calling it a “flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions” and stating that the U.S. would take “all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland, along with that of our South Korean and Japanese allies.” 

In response, South Korea and the U.S. conducted a joint large-scale air drill simulating “precise strikes” against enemy mobile launchers, according to South Korea’s Defense Ministry.

Nuclear Advancements And Russian Ties

Kim Jong Un reiterated North Korea’s commitment to strengthening its nuclear arsenal, warning that the country’s position on nuclear defense remains unchanged, as reported by KCNA. South Korean intelligence has warned that Pyongyang may conduct a seventh nuclear test soon, with preparations reportedly complete at its Punggye-ri test site.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that thousands of North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia, likely in support of Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that North Korean soldiers in Russian territory were being equipped with Russian uniforms and military equipment, and some had already moved closer to Ukraine.

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun speculated that Pyongyang may seek Russian assistance in nuclear technology, including tactical nuclear weapons, ICBM advancements, reconnaissance satellites, and nuclear submarines, in exchange for its military support.

North Korea’s latest missile launch, coupled with its strengthening ties to Russia, underscores its escalating defiance of international norms, leaving the global community concerned about the nation’s military direction.