North Korea has likely tested a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile, Japan says

People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on March 16, 2022.

Japan's deputy defense minister warned that North Korea likely tested a new type of intercontinental missile on Thursday, while international attention was focused on Russia's war with Ukraine.

It is the first suspected launch of an ICBM since November of last year.

While North Korea has conducted a flurry of missile tests in recent months, Thursday's suspected launch of an ICBM represents a major escalation.

The missile launch may be a new model because it flew much further than the previous test-fire.

The long-range missile flew for 71 minutes and traveled 1,100 kilometers.

It landed about 150 kilometers west of Japan's Oshima Peninsula in the exclusive economic zone. The time is 3:20.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiro said it was unacceptable that while the world was responding to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, North Korea would escalate its provocations against the international community.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday that he would seek international cooperation in response to the missile launch by North Korea. The action was described as unacceptable by Kishida.

South Korea's military said earlier on Thursday that North Korea had launched a long-range missile, but did not specify whether it was an ICBM.

South Korea's military said that a rocket that appeared to explode in mid-air over the capital of North Korea was fired earlier this month. Reports said the country was planning to test-fire its largest missile.

South Korea, Japan and the U.S. have all condemned the missile tests by North Korea. The 13th missile test-fired by North Korea since the start of the year would be on Thursday.