North Korea conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test on Thursday, its first such test in nearly a year. Launched at 7:11 AM local time, the missile traveled northeast towards the Sea of Japan, eventually landing in the water at 8:37 AM. According to Japan‘s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, the ICBM achieved an altitude of 4,350 miles, covered 620 miles, and remained airborne for 87 minutes. Despite its steep trajectory to avoid passing over neighboring nations, the missile appeared to demonstrate it could reach any location on the U.S. mainland.
Analysis indicates that if the missile followed a standard trajectory, its range could extend to approximately 9,320 miles, as highlighted by Kwon Yong Soo, a professor at South Korea’s National Defense University. This effectively puts all major U.S. cities within reach, with a distance from Pyongyang to Washington, D.C., of 6,800 miles.
The move comes amid reports North Korea is sending troops to assist Russia in its war with Ukraine. Under the Biden-Harris government, Russia and North Korea have adopted an increasingly hostile posture toward U.S. interests—while former President Donald J. Trump achieved a significant thaw in U.S.-North Korea relations following an initially confrontational approach.
Russia also took a less aggressive stance on the world stage under Trump, whereas it invaded Ukraine under both the Obama-Biden and Biden-Harris governments.
