Seoul: North Korea fired a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) toward the East Sea on Thursday, according to South Korea's military. This event unfolded just hours after the defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States jointly condemned North Korea's recent deployment of troops to Russia. According to Yonhap News Agency, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that the missile was launched at approximately 7:10 a.m. from the Pyongyang area on a lofted trajectory. The missile traveled around 1,000 kilometers before landing in the East Sea. Details regarding the missile's altitude and whether it used solid fuel remain unclear as an in-depth analysis is underway. The missile launch followed a strong denunciation from the defense chiefs of South Korea and the U.S. regarding North Korea's troop deployment to Russia. During their annual defense talks at the Pentagon on Wednesday, the allies condemned the deployment in the strongest terms. The JCS labeled the missile launch as a major prov ocation threatening the peace and stability of both the Korean Peninsula and the broader international community. They emphasized their commitment to maintaining a full readiness posture, bolstered by a robust combined defense strategy between South Korea and the U.S. against potential provocations by the North. "The defense chiefs of South Korea and the U.S. agreed to demonstrate the alliance's determination for a response by strongly carrying out various measures, such as combined drills involving the deployment of U.S. strategic assets," stated the JCS. The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia has raised concerns about a potential escalation in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The United States has reported that North Korea has dispatched approximately 10,000 troops to eastern Russia for training, with some positioned near Russia's western border close to Ukraine. Last week, North Korea's foreign ministry claimed that any reported troop dispatch to Russia would be in accordance with international law, while Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed Moscow's military cooperation with Pyongyang, referencing a bilateral treaty that includes a mutual defense clause. Thursday's missile launch marks the first ICBM test by North Korea since December 18, when the North fired a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel ICBM. Experts suggest that this missile could have reached over 15,000 kilometers, capable of striking any part of the continental U.S. if launched on a standard trajectory. North Korea last conducted multiple short-range ballistic missile tests on September 18.