North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile with a theoretical range capable of striking the U.S. mainland, South Korea, and Japan. It was the country’s first ICBM launch since December and comes amid tensions with the U.S. ahead of the presidential election. The missile flew for its longest recorded flight time of 86 minutes, reaching an altitude of about 4,350 miles. While it traveled 620 miles before crashing into the sea off Japan, it could theoretically have flown much farther, potentially reaching cities like Anchorage, Alaska and Washington, D.C.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un described the test as “appropriate military action” in response to enemies. The U.S. and its allies condemned the launch as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, but assessed that it did not pose an immediate threat.
Experts estimate that North Korea has about 50 “stored” nuclear warheads, with the U.S. and Russia possessing the majority of global nuclear warheads. The U.S. and Russia each have around 1,700 “deployed” nuclear warheads ready for use.
The launch suggests that North Korea is attempting to grab the attention of the U.S. and its allies, potentially as a display of strength or a message ahead of the presidential election. The international community is closely monitoring the situation as tensions in the region escalate.
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