Produced by: Tarun Mishra
On Oct. 30, North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), marking its first such launch in nearly a year. The missile reportedly reached space, achieving a new altitude record.
The ICBM launch, occurring just days before the US federal election on Nov. 5, is likely a calculated move, according to reports from the Associated Press, suggesting it may have geopolitical implications.
The missile reportedly flew for 86 minutes, reaching an altitude of 4,350 miles (7,000 km)—about 1,000 miles higher than previous tests—setting a new milestone for North Korean missile capabilities.
The governments of the United States and Japan confirmed the launch, which has heightened security concerns across the Asia-Pacific region, leading to ongoing military exercises by US, Japanese, and South Korean forces in the Pacific.
North Korea has expressed increasing support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, aligning itself with Moscow’s position on the conflict, which has intensified concerns among Western nations.
The US and NATO recently condemned North Korea’s deployment of roughly 10,000 troops to Russia, labelling it a "very serious issue" that could impact security across both the Pacific and Europe.
While North Korea’s December 2023 ICBM test featured a Hwasong-18 missile, it is unclear if the same model was used in this latest launch, according to Al Jazeera.
North Korea continues to follow its long-standing isolationist policies. However, it has sought closer ties with Russia in recent years, particularly through meetings between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in 2023, signalling potential collaborations.