Overview

• North Korea's test of the Hwasong-19 ICBM marked its most advanced missile launch, with the missile flying higher and longer than previous tests.
• The US, South Korea, and Japan conducted a trilateral air drill involving the US B-1B bomber to demonstrate military readiness and deterrence.
• This was the fourth deployment of the B-1B bomber to the Korean Peninsula this year and the second trilateral air exercise aimed at countering North Korean threats.
• North Korea's missile test is seen as a strategic move to gain attention ahead of the US presidential election and amid international criticism of its military support for Russia.
• North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised the missile launch as a necessary response to perceived external threats from rival nations.