North Korea Allegedly Launches Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Towards The East Sea

Illustration of North Korea's ballistic missile launch. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - The Japanese and North Korean authorities on Thursday announced North Korea was suspected of firing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), amid the spotlight on alleged troop shipments by Pyongyang to Russia, as well as preparations for the ICBM launch test.

The South Korean military said North Korea fired what was suspected to be an ICBM on a high track, hours after the defense chiefs of Seoul and the United States jointly criticized the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch at around 7:10 a.m. from the Pyongyang region in North Korea.

"North Korea's ballistic missile appears to be an ICBM fired at high track," JCS said in a text message sent to reporters.

"It is believed North Korea's ballistic missile is a long-range ballistic missile fired at a high angle," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

"In the midst of increasing alertness, our military maintains full readiness because we share North Korean ballistic information with US and Japanese authorities," he added.

Meanwhile, the Japanese Government said the missile suspected of being ICBM North Korea was launched headed into the Sea of Japan, quoted from Kyodo News.

Japan's Ministry of Defense said the missile was expected to fall around 8:36 a.m. outside Japan's exclusive economic zone about 300 kilometers west of Okushiri Island in Hokkaido.

According to a release by the Japanese Coast Guard at 8:40 a.m., the missile is believed to have fallen.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba later said there were no reports of damage caused by the launch.

Defense Minister General Nakaati said Japan strongly condemns North Korea's actions, which threaten not only Japan but also the international community.

He said the missile launch was likely the longest from North Korea's missile launch and could be a new type of missile.

The launch came hours after South Korean and US defense chiefs criticized the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia with "one voice", in the term "hardest" during the allied annual defense talks at the Pentagon on Wednesday.

North Korea last fired several short-range ballistic missiles on September 18. Meanwhile, the last time Pyongyang fired an ICBM was on December 18 last year.

The missile shooting came a day after South Korean lawmakers said North Korea may be preparing for the launch of the ICBM and conducting its seventh nuclear test, both in November, citing Defense Ministry intelligence.

On Wednesday, South Korea's Defense Intelligence Command said North Korea had placed mobile launchers at locations preparing for what may be an ICBM around the timing of the US Presidential election, which will take place on Tuesday next week.