North Korea Launches Long-Range Missile Test

North Korea has conducted its longest-ever intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, launching the missile from near Pyongyang and achieving a flight time of approximately 87 minutes. This provocative action comes just days before the U.S. presidential election and amid heightened concerns over North Korea potentially exchanging military support with Russia in the Ukraine conflict. The missile reportedly splashed down about 300 kilometers west of Japan's Hokkaido, raising alarms in South Korea, Japan, and the United States, who denounced the launch as a violation of UN resolutions. South Korean military intelligence indicates that North Korea is preparing for a seventh nuclear test, with missile development progressing rapidly. The ongoing military collaboration between North Korea and Russia is seen as a significant shift in their defense relationship, potentially enhancing North Korea's missile capabilities. The situation continues to evolve as international tensions rise over North Korea's military ambitions.