North Korea launches ICBM that sets flight time record

North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday that flew for a regime record of 86 minutes, invoking condemnations from South Korea and the United States.

North Korea launches an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the East Sea in a photo released by its official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday, hours after the launch was detected by Seoul. [YONHAP]

North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Thursday at a lofted trajectory, setting the record for its longest ICBM flight at 86 minutes.

Pyongyang launched a new solid-fuel ICBM at around 7:10 a.m. Thursday, which flew 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

"Our military detected a ballistic missile launched into the East Sea at around 7:10 a.m. today from the Pyongyang area," the JCS said in a statement Thursday. "It is presumed to be a long-range ballistic missile launched at a lofted angle.

"Our military is strengthening surveillance and vigilance and is maintaining a full readiness posture while closely sharing information related to North Korean ballistic missiles with the United States and Japan," the JCS added.

Pyongyang's ICBM launch took place immediately after the South Korean-U.S. defense authorities held their annual Security Consultative Meeting in Washington and condemned the North Korean military's deployment of troops to Russia.

The Japanese government estimated that the ICBM landed about 300 kilometers west of Okushiri Island in Hokkaido, outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. The peak altitude of the launch is estimated to be about 7,000 kilometers.

The previous record for the longest flight of a North Korean ICBM was set on July 12 last year, when Pyongyang launched a new solid-fuel propulsion-based missile, the Hwasong-18, into the East Sea, which flew for approximately 74 minutes.

Accordingly, the possibility is being raised that the ICBM launched on Thursday is not a Hwasong-18 but a different type. On Sept. 9, North Korea hinted at the development of a new ICBM by revealing a new type of transporter erector launcher (TEL) that appears to have 12 wheels on each side.

"The launch today may have been from a new 24-wheel mobile launcher that North Korea recently revealed," a JCS official said Thursday. "It is possible that the missile has grown in size and the warhead weight has increased." Previously, North Korea launched the Hwasong-18 from an 18-wheel TEL. Before this, the Hwasong-17, known as the “monster ICBM,” had an 22-wheel TEL. Experts report that the Hwasong-17 is up to 24 meters (78.7 feet) long and 2.4 meters in diameter. The military reports that the new ICBM is larger than this, reaching a length of about 30 meters. This could mean that it is an improved version with increased thrust from the solid-fuel propellant and an increased warhead weight.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un confirmed the launch of the ICBM on Thursday and said that it was to demonstrate the country's "counteraction will" against its enemies.

At the launch site of the ICBM, Kim said that the test-fire is "an appropriate military action," according to a report carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KNCA).

"I affirm that the DPRK will never change its line of bolstering up its nuclear forces," Kim said in the statement carried by the KCNA, which referred to North Korea using the acronym of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

This file photo carried by North Korea's Rodong Sinmun shows an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) being launched. [NEWS1]

Regarding Pyongyang's latest ICBM launch, President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed the National Security Council (NSC) to "respond strongly to North Korea's provocations together with the international community and be fully prepared so that North Korea cannot plan any surprise provocations."

The presidential office stated that Yoon immediately received a report from the National Security Office that the military had detected North Korea's ICBM launch at 7:10 a.m. and gave the order.

An emergency NSC standing committee meeting presided over by National Security Office Director Shin Won-sik also decided to designate new independent sanctions against North Korea in response to its provocations.

The NSC standing committee members pointed out that North Korea violated UN Security Council resolutions again by launching an ICBM. They also strongly condemned Pyongyang's provocative behavior that seriously threatens the peace and safety of the Korean Peninsula and the international community.

Seoul's Foreign Ministry on Thursday said the South Korean government will newly designate items that can be used in the development of North Korea's solid-fuel ballistic missiles as targets of sanctions. The ministry announced 15 new items that are necessary for development and production, such as solid propellants, fuselages, combustion tubes and drive devices, which North Korea finds difficult to produce on its own.

Regarding Pyongyang's habitual violations of UN Security Council resolutions, the NSC agreed to work closely with allies and the UN to ensure that the international community's sanctions against the regime are implemented strongly and effectively.

The United States also denounced on Thursday North Korea's ICBM launch and urged Pyongyang to engage in dialogue. The timing of the latest launch comes days ahead of the U.S. presidential election.

When launched at a normal angle, the new ICBM is expected to be able to fly over 15,000 kilometers, putting the entire continental United States within striking distance.

"The United States strongly condemns the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile test," White House National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said in a statement. "This launch is a flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

"While U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has assessed it did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies, this launch needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region," Savett continued. "It only demonstrates that the DPRK continues to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs over the well-being of its people.

"We urge all countries to condemn these violations and call on the DPRK to cease its destabilizing actions and engage in serious dialogue," he added. "The national security team is closely coordinating with our allies and partners. The United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and Republic of Korea and Japanese allies."

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]