North Korea has fired what appears to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the sea off its eastern coast, the South Korean military said.

The launch comes at a time of deterioration of relations between the two Koreas and Pyongyang’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric toward Seoul.

The missile was fired at a sharply high angle or high trajectory around 7:10 a.m. local time Thursday (10:10 p.m. GMT Wednesday).

South Korea warned on Wednesday that the North was preparing to fire its ICBM ahead of the US presidential election on November 5.

North Korea last fired an ICBM in December last year, in defiance of long-standing crippling UN sanctions.

Neighboring Japan said it monitored Thursday’s launch, adding that the missile was expected to have fallen into the sea by 8:40 a.m. local time.

Thursday’s launch comes after South Korea and the United States accused North Korea of ​​sending troops to Russia to support Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

The alleged presence of North Korean troops in Russia has added to growing concerns about deepening ties between Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.