North Korea tests long-range missile and increases pressure

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea test-fired what may be its largest intercontinental ballistic missile Thursday into the sea, its neighbors say, raising the stakes in a pressure campaign to force the United States and other rivals to accept it as a nuclear power and withdraw the harsh sanctions it faces.

The launch extended Pyongyang’s extensive series of weapons tests this year. It was carried out after the US and South Korean military warned that the North Korean government was preparing to fly a large new intercontinental ballistic missile that was unveiled in October 2020.

South Korea’s military responded with maneuvers of its own ground-launched armed missiles, a fighter jet and a ship, highlighting a revival of tensions at a time when nuclear talks remain frozen. Seoul said it confirmed its readiness to carry out precision strikes against North Korean missile launch points as well as command and support facilities.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters that her country has called an open meeting of the Security Council to discuss the launch and expects it to take place on Friday.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said the intercontinental ballistic missile fired by the North Korean government from the Sunan area, near the capital Pyongyang, traveled 1,080 kilometers (670 miles) and reached a maximum height of 6,200 kilometers (3,850 miles). ). The missile was apparently launched at a high angle to prevent it from falling into Japanese territorial waters.

Japanese Deputy Defense Minister Makoto Oniki said details of the flight suggest that it is a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile.

“It is an inexcusable irresponsibility. We resolutely condemn this action,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said after arriving in Belgium to attend the Group of Seven meetings.

The missile flew for 71 minutes before possibly landing near Japan’s territorial waters off the island of Hokkaido, Tokyo Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said.

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Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.