Seoul: North Korea fired what appeared to be a new type of solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea's military reported. This action is seen as an apparent move by Pyongyang to flaunt its nuclear capabilities just ahead of the U.S. presidential election set to take place next week. According to Yonhap News Agency, the ICBM launch marks the first in about a year and coincided with statements by the defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States, who jointly condemned North Korea's troop deployment to Russia. The condemnation came during the allies' annual defense talks at the Pentagon on Wednesday, where they expressed their views in "the strongest" terms. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea detected the missile, which was fired on a lofted trajectory at around 7:10 a.m. from the Pyongyang area. The missile reportedly flew approximately 1,000 kilometers before landing in the East Sea. It is noted that when fired at a standard angle, ICB Ms have the capability to strike the U.S. mainland. JCS spokesperson Lee Sung-jun addressed a press briefing, stating, "Early assessment showed there is a possibility (North Korea) may have test-fired a new type of solid-fuel long-range ballistic missile." Additionally, Japanese authorities assessed that the missile flew for a record 86 minutes, reaching a maximum altitude of about 7,000 kilometers, an analysis shared by South Korea's JCS. In a rare move, North Korea confirmed its ICBM launch about five hours after the South Korean military's announcement, describing it as a "very crucial test." Typically, the North confirms major weapons tests through its state media the following day. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), affirmed the DPRK's commitment to strengthening its nuclear forces. Kim described the weapons test as an "appropriate military action" intended to signal the country's "counteraction will" to its adversaries. Following the lau nch, an emergency meeting of the National Security Council was held, during which South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called for "stern" measures to address the North's provocation. The South Korean government also decided to impose new unilateral sanctions against North Korea. South Korea's military condemned the launch as a reckless provocation and warned that North Korea would be held "wholly" accountable for any subsequent measures. The defense chiefs of South Korea and the U.S. agreed to demonstrate the alliance's determination to respond by strongly implementing various measures, including combined drills involving the deployment of U.S. strategic assets, as stated by the JCS. The launch on Thursday occurred 10 months after North Korea fired a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel ICBM on December 18. Lee of the JCS suggested that the recent missile launch by North Korea is an attempt to gain leverage ahead of the U.S. election, amidst growing scrutiny and criticism over its troop deployment to Russia. Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, noted that the launch appears to serve several strategic purposes for North Korea. These include showcasing its deepening ties with Russia, making its presence known ahead of the U.S. elections, and diverting international criticism over its troop deployment. "Given that an ICBM targets the U.S., (the North) has boasted its proven capability to retaliate in the event its safety is threatened," Hong said.