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By John Feng and Jordan King
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North Korea's test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Thursday shows that anywhere in the U.S. mainland is within its range.
The missile was reportedly fired at 7:11 a.m. local time in Pyongyang's first such test in almost a year. It flew northeastward to the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea in South Korea, where it landed in the water at 8:37 a.m.
The ICBM reached an altitude of 4,350 miles (7,000 kilometers), flew a distance of 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) and was in the air for 87 minutes, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters. But it was fired at a steep angle in an effort to control its path and avoid neighboring countries.
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If launched normally, and dependent on its payload, this translates into a potential range of up to 9,320 miles (15,000 kilometers), Kwon Yong Soo, an honorary professor at South Korea's National Defense University said, which puts anywhere in America in its range.
From Pyongyang, it is 6,800 miles (10,940 kilometers) to Washington, D.C. and New York, 5,600 miles (9,000 kilometers) to San Francisco and 5,100 miles (8,200 kilometers) to Seattle.
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Department of Defense, via email outside of normal working hours, for comment.
North Korea's ability to reach the U.S. was already theoretically proven in Pyongyang's previous test launch of an ICBM, dubbed the Hwasong-18, in December 2023, which lasted a little less than the latest test—73 minutes.
Experts cited by Defense News say the fact that Thursday's launch saw the missile fly for longer means its engine thrust has improved. They believe this most recent launch was carried out to determine whether the missile could carry a bigger warhead.
It comes amid international fears over North Korean troops being deployed to fight for Moscow in Ukraine, with the Pentagon reporting on Monday that around 10,000 soldiers have been sent to Russia.
"North Korea could have probably thought that its rivals could look down on it after it gave away so much in military resources to Russia," Yang Uk, an expert at South Korea's Asan Institute Institute for Policy Studies told Defense News.
"The launch may have been intended as a demonstration to show what it's capable of, regardless of troop dispatches or other movements," he said.
Newsweek has contacted the Permanent Mission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Nations Office, via email, for a response.
News of the launch was initially reported by Japan's Defense Ministry and South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, before it was confirmed by state media in North Korea, which claimed that the ICBM test aimed to demonstrate the "modernity" and "creditability" of the North's strategic deterrent.
Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, vowed that his country would continue to bolster what he called "modern strategic attack forces" and "perfectly round off" the response capability of its nuclear forces, citing the security situation as well as perceived threats and challenges.
"I affirm that the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] will never change its line of bolstering up its nuclear forces," said Kim, using the official name of North Korea.
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