North Korea recently test-fired a suspected long-range ballistic missile, which is believed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) designed to strike the United States. The launch was the first of its kind since December for North Korea, a nuclear-armed state that has been escalating tensions with the U.S. and its allies South Korea and Japan. The missile was launched from near Pyongyang and fell into the sea off North Korea’s east coast, prompting condemnation from Japan and South Korea as well as the White House, which described the launch as a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.Meanwhile, there are concerns that North Korea could conduct its seventh nuclear test, as Pyongyang reportedly sent soldiers for training in Russia’s Far East. This has raised suspicions of Russia possibly providing North Korea with technology to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his South Korean counterpart condemned the deployment of North Korean soldiers in Russia during a bilateral meeting in Washington. It is believed that North Korea is still working on mastering the technology needed to make warheads small enough to be placed on its missiles and protect them during reentry into the atmosphere. The launch comes amidst growing security ties between North Korea and Moscow, as well as the impending U.S. presidential election.
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