North Korea fires suspected intercontinental ballistic missile for first time since 2017; US ‘strongly condemns’ launch

South Korea’s military said the projectile was fired on a ‘lofted’ trajectory high into space; Seoul had warned that Pyongyang may be preparing to launch an ICBM

Washington condemned the launch and urged the world to hold Pyongyang responsible for violating UN Security Council resolutions

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North Korea launched the Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile in 2017. File photo: KCNA/KNS via AP

Published: 3:53pm, 24 Mar 2022Updated: 7:25pm, 24 Mar 2022

North Korea fired what is thought to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) toward the sea off its east coast on Thursday, militaries in South Korea and Japan said, in what would be the first full-capability launch of the nuclear-armed state’s largest missiles since 2017.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had detected the launch of an “unidentified projectile” from Pyongyang. It said the test was assumed to be a long-range missile, possibly an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) fired on a “lofted” trajectory high into space, Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korea’s Ministry of defence did not immediately confirm whether the test involved an ICBM. North Korea has not tested such missiles at full range or capability since 2017.

Japan’s coastguard said the projectile landed inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), 170km west of Aomori prefecture at 3.44pm local time.

The United States condemned North Korea’s test firing and urged the world to hold Pyongyang responsible for violating UN Security Council resolutions.

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