North Korea boosts military capabilities ahead of final phase of the global fragmented conflict: plan to block our military support to Japan and South Korea

On October 31, 2024, the DPRK launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile in 11 months. According to Pyongyang’s statement, it was the Hwasong-19, which had never been tested before.

It flew about 1,000 kilometers for an hour and a half, the longest recorded North Korean missile flight time. Landing near the island of Okushiri (Hokkaido Prefecture), this intercontinental missile demonstrated better performance than the Hwasong-18 tested in 2023.

In particular, the thrust of its engine has been improved, which means that the missile can carry more destructive warheads, provide more stable flight, and hit targets more accurately.