North Korea launches longest-range intercontinental ballistic missile ever

North Korea launched what is believed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the Sea of ​​Japan this morning, November 29. Military experts estimate that the missile's range could be up to 10,000km, meaning it could reach Hawaii in the US.

A North Korean missile test (Photo: Reuters)

Highest flying rocket

Yonhap quoted information from the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff as saying that the missile was launched from north of the North Korean capital Pyongyang at around 3:17 a.m. this morning, November 29. The missile fell in the sea right next to Japan.

Japanese officials estimate the missile flew for about 50 minutes and fell into Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The missile is said to have traveled 960km and reached an altitude of 4,500km. In other words, this was North Korea's highest-flying and longest-flying missile launch to date.

The data suggests that this could be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and even the longest-range missile ever launched by North Korea. South Korean military officials estimate that if fired on a standard trajectory, the missile could fly more than 10,000km, meaning it could reach Hawaii, threatening US forces in the Asia-Pacific.

President Trump vowed to "deal with it"

This is North Korea's first missile test after two months of "sitting and not moving" and took place not long after US President Donald Trump put North Korea back on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism. President Trump has repeatedly stated that he will not let North Korea develop missiles that can hit the US mainland. "This is a situation that we have to deal with," President Trump told reporters right after North Korea launched the missile on the morning of November 29.

The White House chief added that the launch would not change US policy toward North Korea. Washington has repeatedly stressed that it is open to all options in dealing with North Korea, including military measures, but still prioritizes peaceful solutions.

The Pentagon assessed that North Korea's newly launched missile may be an intercontinental ballistic missile, but does not threaten US territory or its allies.

The launch also drew criticism from countries in the region. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called Pyongyang's latest missile test an "unforgivable" act and called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. "We will never tolerate provocations, we will apply maximum pressure (on North Korea)."

South Korean President Moon Jae-in also convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the situation. The South Korean military also conducted a precision strike missile launch drill near the Northern Limit Line just minutes after North Korea's missile launch.

According to Dan Tri