SEOUL: North Korea tested one of its most powerful missiles on Thursday (Oct 31), the South Korean military said. This is Kim Jong Un’s first weapons test since he was accused of send soldiers to Russia.

South Korea’s military warned a day earlier that the nuclear-armed North prepares to test another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or even conduct a nuclear test, perhaps before the US elections next week.

The launch comes just hours after the U.S. and South Korean defense chiefs called on Pyongyang to withdraw its troops from Russia, warning that North Korean soldiers in Russian uniforms were being deployed for possible action against Ukrainian forces.

“Our military detected a ballistic missile launched from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea today around 7:10 a.m. (10:10 p.m. GMT),” Seoul’s chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to the range. of water also known as the Sea of ​​Japan.

“The ballistic missile is presumed to be a long-range missile launched at a high angle,” he added.

North Korea typically tests its longest-range and most powerful missiles on a so-called high trajectory — fired, not off — which it says is aimed at avoiding flying over neighboring countries.

“Our military has raised its alert level and is closely sharing information regarding the North Korean ballistic missile with U.S. and Japanese authorities, maintaining a thorough preparedness posture,” Seoul’s JCS added.

Tokyo also confirmed the launch, with Japan’s defense minister saying the missile had flown longer than any missile previously tested by the North.

“This is the longest flight duration of a missile so far,” General Nakatani told reporters.

“I think it might be different from conventional missiles.”

WEAPONS FOR RUSSIA

South Korea’s military told lawmakers Wednesday that “preparations are almost complete for a long-range ICBM-class missile.”

“Preparations for a transporter erector launcher have been completed and it has been deployed in a certain area,” the Defense Intelligence Agency told lawmakers, while clarifying that no missile has yet been mounted.

The DIA said the launch could involve an ICBM and aim to test the North’s atmospheric re-entry technology.