North Korea test-fires Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile that has potential to hit US mainland

North Korea tested the missile just days before the US will vote to elect the new President.

Guided by Kim, North Korea carried out a "crucial" missile test that set milestones in "perpetuating the absolute superiority" of the country's armed forces, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) as quoted by South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.

The South Korean military told the news agency that it detected the missile, fired at a lofted angle, at about 7:10 a.m. from the North's Pyongyang area and said it flew about 1,000 kilometers before coming down in the East Sea.

According to reports, North Korea claimed the missile traversed 1,001.2 kilometres at a maximum altitude of 7,687.5 kilometres and flew for 5,156 seconds. 

The missile reportedly had the longest flight time for a North Korean missile.

South Korean media reports claimed the missile launch was inspected by North Korean leader KimJong Un's daughter.

North Korea described the latest ICBM as an "ultra-powerful offensive means" and an "ultimate" version of its long-range missile series, reported Yonhap news agency.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, and Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul held a call today to strongly condemn the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on October 31 (local time).

"The DPRK’s launch is in flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. We strongly urge the DPRK to immediately cease its series of provocative and destabilizing actions that threaten peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and beyond," read the statement issued by the US Department of State.

"We note the launch took place following the DPRK’s announcement that its Constitution newly defined the ROK as a hostile state. The U.S. and Japan reiterated their support for a peacefully unified Korean Peninsula that is free and at peace. We again urge the DPRK to return to dialogue immediately. Only through dialogue can we achieve a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula," the statement said.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he believes 8,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Russia on the border with Ukraine.

“One of the reasons that Russia is turning to these North Korean troops is that it’s desperate,” Blinken was quoted as saying by The Guardian during the press conference as he met South Korea’s foreign and defence ministers in Washington.