In a press briefing, ministry spokesperson Kim In-ae said, "The ICBM launch is clearly a provocative act that violates UN Security Council resolutions and poses a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula."
The ministry analyzed that the test-launch likely serves multiple purposes, such as demonstrating North Korea's nuclear weapons capabilities and pressuring the United States.
The launch comes after North Korea's recent disclosure of a uranium enrichment facility on Sept. 13 and the first-ever revelation of a strategic missile base on Oct. 23.
"Additionally, it may have aimed to divert attention from global criticism of its troop deployment to Russia and to secure achievements ahead of the country's year-end party gathering," Kim added.
North Korea launched the ICBM from a site near Pyongyang into the East Sea at around 7:10 a.m. (2210 GMT) on Thursday.
According to its state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the ICBM, named "Hwasong-19," is the largest solid-fuel missile North Korea has developed. It reportedly consists of three-stage propulsion units and was launched from an 11-axle transporter erector launcher (TEL).
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