麻豆社

South Korea and Japan say North Korea has carried out its first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile since 2017. Japanese officials said it flew 1,100 km (684 miles) and fell in Japanese waters after flying for over an hour. ICBMs, designed for nuclear arms delivery, could extend North Korea's strike range as far as the US mainland. The test is being seen as a major escalation by the North and has been condemned by its neighbours and the US. The UN prohibits North Korea from ballistic and nuclear weapons tests, and has imposed strict sanctions after previous tests.

Michael Bristow, 麻豆社 Asian correspondent, says this is the significant because this gives North Korea the scope to fire rockets which have the potential to reach the US. He goes on to say that South Korea responded almost immediately wtih a series of missiles itself, which he believes were intended to show that it has the capacity to reach sites in North Korea.

"This is an escalation and a problem for the world."

Photo: People sit near a TV showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, Seoul, March 24, 2022 Credit: Getty Images

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