North Korea Successfully Tests Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

North Korean central television reported Pyongyang has successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Earlier in the day, Pyongyang launched the missile at 09:39 local time (00:39 GMT on Tuesday), which landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference. According to Suga, the flight lasted for 40 minutes.

​According to the North Korean TV, the Hwasong 14’s flight level reached 2,802 kilometers (1,741 miles) and hit the target 930 kilometers (578 miles) apart after 39 minutes. According to the Japanese Kyodo news agency, the altitude was 2,500 kilometers.

Suga called Pyongyang’s missile launch a provocation and a blatant violation of the UN Security Council’s resolutions.

​The situation on the Korean peninsula has become aggravated in recent months due to a series of missile launches and nuclear tests conducted by Pyongyang, all of which are claimed to be in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The previous launch took place on June 8, when North Korea carried out a launch of short-range anti-ship missiles, reportedly flying some 124 miles before dropping into the Sea of Japan.