N Korea test-fires its most powerful missile

North Korea has test-fired its most powerful missile to boost its nuclear deterrent, local media reported Thursday.

Seoul has warned a day earlier that the nuclear-armed North was preparing to test-fire another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

It also said that the country would also conduct a nuclear test ahead of next week’s US elections.

The development comes just hours after US and South Korean defene chief called on Pyongyang to withdraw its troops from Russia.

“The initial judgment so far is that (Pyongyang) may have test-fired a new solid-propelled long-range ballistic missile,” Seoul’s military said, adding the missile had flown around 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) after being fired on a lofted trajectory — meaning up, not out.

Developing advanced solid-fuel missiles — which are quicker to launch and harder to detect and destroy in advance — has long been a goal for Kim.

The test “updated the recent records of the strategic missile capability,” of North Korea, it said, with Kim vowing his country “will never change its line of bolstering up its nuclear forces”.

Meanwhile, Japan said that the “ICBM-class” missile had flown for longer than any other previously tested by the North.

“It was airborne for about 86 minutes and hitting altitudes of 7,000 kilometres,” Japanese defence minister Gen Nakatani told reporters. “We estimate that its flying altitude was the highest we have seen.”