▲ North Korea fires a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Dec. 18, 2023, in this file photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the following day, with its leader Kim Jong-un observing the launch. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

N Korea-ICBM launch

N. Korea says it test-fired new Hwasong-19 ICBM

SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Friday it test-fired the new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) the previous day, describing it as a new "super-powerful striking means."

North Korea carried out a "critical" missile test in a bid to demonstrate the country's "absolute" superiority in striking power, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missile, fired at a lofted trajectory, at about 7:10 a.m. from the North's Pyongyang area and said it flew about 1,000 kilometers before landing in the East Sea. When fired at a normal angle, the North's ICBMs are believed to be capable of striking the U.S. mainland.

North Korea said the missile reached a maximum altitude of 7,687.5 kilometers and traversed 1,001.2 km for 5,156 seconds.

The ICBM launch, the first in almost a year, came just days before the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5. Observers said the North's provocation was likely meant to flaunt its capability to deliver a nuclear warhead to the U.S. mainland and divert attention from recent condemnation over its troop deployment to Russia.

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