North Korea is suspected of test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile towards the sea, South Korea has reported. The missile, which was launched towards the East Sea, is believed to have been fired on a lofted trajectory, allowing it to reach a very high altitude before landing a short horizontal distance from the launch site. This type of launch helps North Korea gather data on the challenges of re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
Japan’s Defence Minister Gen Nakatani stated that this missile had the longest flight time of any of Pyongyang’s past missiles. The launch comes after reports that North Korea may be preparing for its seventh nuclear test and is close to test-firing a long-range missile capable of reaching the United States.
Additionally, concerns have been raised about North Korea’s reported troop dispatch to Russia to support its war against Ukraine. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described this as a dangerous and destabilizing development, noting that North Korean troops wearing Russian uniforms and carrying Russian equipment are moving towards Ukraine. South Korea reports that over 11,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia, with more than 3,000 of them located close to the fighting in western Russia.
The situation is still developing, with tensions escalating in the region. The international community is closely monitoring the actions of North Korea and its potential impact on global security.
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