North Korea Fires A Ballistic Missile, Falling In The Sea Of Japan

Missile Illustration (Photo: Doc. NHK News)

JAKARTA - North Korea launched one intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the East Sea (Japan Sea) on Saturday night. The missile test is the first in 2023.

Launching NK News, Saturday, January 18, JCS said the missile was fired at around 17:22. KST from the Pyongyang area was expressed by the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

Japan's defense ministry estimates the plane flew about 66 minutes and landed 125 miles (200 km) west of Hokkaido within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Japanese broadcaster NHK released video footage from the northernmost Japanese prefecture claimed to show the missile burned and landed off the coast.

Both South Korea and Japan's military reported late Saturday that the missile was an ICBM flying 560 miles (900 km) on a high track. Japan added it detected a maximum altitude of 3,540 miles (5,700 km).

JCS called the missile launch a "provocation" and said it was working with the US for further analysis.

North Korea last tested ICBM in November Hwasong-17 liquid-fueled ICBM flying over the same period as Saturday.

Analysts have assessed that North Korea is preparing to test the launch of a dense-fuel ICBM for the first time, after Pyongyang introduced its launch vehicle at a military parade earlier this month and tested the engine associated with the project in December.

North Korean state media do not always report missile tests, but can offer details and photos as early as Sunday morning.

Saturday's trial came a day after the DPRK foreign ministry threatened to take a very persistent and strong in response to the upcoming US-ROK table drills later this month.