North Korea conducted a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile test Thursday morning, according to Japan’s Defense Ministry, which said it would be the longest flight time ever for a North Korean missile.

The launch comes just days before Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election and follows warnings from South Korean intelligence that Pyongyang was planning to launch an ICBM to test its re-entry technology around the time of the election.

The missile could have been a “new type of solid-propelled, long-range ballistic missile,” fired “at a high angle” and traveling a distance of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), the Joint Chiefs of Staff said South Koreans.

Japanese authorities said the missile flew for about 86 minutes and at a possible altitude of 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles) before falling into the sea west of the northern island of Okushiri. Hokkaido, around 8:37 a.m., NHK said.

It is suspected of having fallen outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, according to public broadcaster NHK, citing the country’s Defense Ministry.

“The flight time was the longest ever recorded. Perhaps the newest missile ever designed,” said Japanese Defense Minister General Nakatani.

The United States National Security Council called the launch an ICBM test, calling it a “blatant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.”

If it is confirmed to be an ICBM, it would be North Korea’s. first launch of this type since it is Hwasong-18 missile test in December 2023. The missile is a powerful solid-fuel ICBM that North Korea also launched in April and July last year.

During the December test, Japanese authorities said the missile flew on a very high trajectory for about 73 minutes and at an altitude of 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles).

The missile in Thursday’s test flew higher than North Korea’s previous ICBM test, according to an initial analysis by the South Korean military.

South Korea’s military intelligence agency said Wednesday that Pyongyang has completed preparations to conduct its seventh nuclear test at its Punggye-ri test site, and that the test could take place around the time of the U.S. election, according to two legislators briefed during a regular parliamentary meeting. meeting.

Since carrying out its first nuclear test more than a decade ago, North Korea has improved its military capabilities, with ambitions to miniaturize a warhead so it can fit a long-range missile .

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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