North Korea: Pyongyang fires suspected ICBM

By Arshan Chowdhury, Staff Reporter, The Pawprint

South Korean officials say North Korea has fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) designed to hit targets halfway around the world. The ICBM launch was Pyongyang’s seventh this year, and took place amid fears it could soon test a nuclear weapon. North Korea’s multiple launches come as the United States and South Korea hold their largest joint air force drills ever, which Pyongyang has strongly criticized as “aggressive and provocative”.

On Thursday, North Korea fired a long-range missile at around 7:44 am local time, according to a statement from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, which was confirmed to be an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile). It flew about 760 km (472 miles) and reached an altitude of about 1,920 km. But it appears to have broken down mid-flight, according to Yonhap News Agency. Pyongyang also fired two short-range ballistic missiles. North Korea, while allowed to test short range missiles, is banned from testing ICBMs, and the test violates international, US-led sanctions placed on them.