N. Korea could be testing intercontinental ballistic missile

North Korea launched an unknown missile off its east coast on Thursday, according to Seoul's military.

The type of missile, launch site location and other characteristics were not immediately disclosed. A suspected ballistic missile launch was identified by Japan's defense ministry, according to an alert issued by the country's coast guard.

According to Tokyo, the missile flew for one hour and 11 minutes before landing in Japan's territorial waters. This launch is deemed to be the DPRK's most powerful since 2017.

Pyongyang had performed ten missile launches this year, more than in the whole year of 2021, before Thursday. According to US, South Korean, and Japanese sources, two of North Korea's recent launches included components of the country's next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile system. 

Despite international sanctions, Pyongyang conducted seven missile tests in January and twice launched components of what it said was a "reconnaissance satellite".

According to the South Korean military, a North Korean missile test last week failed when the projectile detonated shortly after being fired from the suburbs of Pyongyang. Over the weekend, the DPRK also conducted artillery tests.