North Korea says it test-fired its biggest intercontinental ballistic missile on the orders of leader Kim Jong Un to boost its defences and prepare for a “long confrontation” with the United States. Al Jazeera reports that according to state media, the weapon was launched from Pyongyang International Airport, travelled up to a maximum altitude of 6,248 km and flew a distance of 1,090 km during a 67-minute flight before falling into the Sea of Japan. The test drew swift condemnation from South Korea, Japan, and the US, while United Nations chief Antonio Guterres condemned it as a “clear violation” of Security Council resolutions.
