North Korea launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday, which recorded its longest ever flight time and height in its first test in almost a year.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the missile test and was at the launch site, calling the launch “an appropriate military action” to show North Korea’s resolve to respond to its enemies’ moves
The United States, South Korea and Japan had also identified the weapon as an ICBM and condemned the launch as raising tensions.
The launch came as Washington warned that North Korean troops in Russian uniforms are heading toward Ukraine, likely to augment Russian forces and join the war.
North Korea confirmed the launch hours after its neighbours detected the firing of what they suspected was a new, more agile weapon targeting the mainland US.
The statement was unusually quick since North Korea usually describes its weapons tests a day after they occur.