North Korea Fires Suspected Long-Range Missile Amid Heightened Tensions

North Korea launched what appears to be a long-range ballistic missile into waters off its eastern coast on Thursday morning, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. The launch came shortly after reports from Seoul suggested that North Korea was preparing for an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test.

The missile was fired from an area near Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital, at 7:10 a.m. local time (10:10 p.m. GMT, October 30) and was launched at a significantly elevated angle, the South Korean military stated. Early assessments indicate that the missile may have utilized a newly developed solid-fuel engine, which could enhance its stability and readiness.

The Hwasong-18, a missile of similar design, was last tested in December of the previous year. This ICBM, also powered by solid fuel and launched from a mobile road-based launcher at a steep angle, demonstrated a potential flight range of up to 15,000 kilometers (9,300 miles) on a regular trajectory. Such a range would make it capable of reaching nearly all locations within the continental United States.

This recent launch has added to the growing concerns over North Korea’s alignment with Russia, especially in light of reports suggesting that around 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to assist Russian forces, with about 3,000 reportedly stationed close to the front lines in western Ukraine.