The fake card was used as bait. The hackers sent phishing emails disguised as requests to review a draft of a government employee's military ID. When recipients clicked the link to download the compressed file containing the supposed draft, they instead received malware. Once activated, the software installed the doctored ID image along with additional malicious files that enabled data theft and remote control of the infected devices.

The targets included journalists, academic researchers, and human rights activists focusing on North Korea. To boost credibility, the hackers sent the emails from an address ending in ".mli.kr," a domain crafted to mimic an official South Korean military address. The number of victims has not yet been determined.

A familiar spy unit with upgraded tools

The attack is believed to have been carried out by Kimsuky, a cyber-espionage unit suspected of operating under the orders of the North Korean regime. Kimsuky has been linked to multiple operations against South Korea. In 2020, the US Department of Homeland Security assessed that the group likely operates at the direction of Pyongyang and focuses on intelligence gathering worldwide.

It is not the first time Pyongyang has harnessed popular AI tools. In August, the US company Anthropic disclosed that North Korean hackers used its Claude Code platform to build fake identities, land jobs at major US tech firms, and even perform paid programming tasks. In February, OpenAI reported that it blocked accounts linked to attempts to create fake documents for recruitment and fraud.

Moon Chung-hyun of Genians said the case illustrates how cybercriminals are adapting cutting-edge technologies for malicious purposes, from planning attacks and developing malware to impersonating potential employers.

When Genians researchers attempted to replicate the process, ChatGPT initially refused to generate a forged government ID, citing South Korean law. But by rephrasing their request, they were able to bypass the restriction.

The US government has long warned that North Korea's cyber operations serve a dual purpose: espionage and revenue generation. By hacking computers, stealing cryptocurrency, and hiring programmers under false identities, the regime secures funds that help it evade international sanctions and advance its nuclear program.

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Two figures stood out among the guests. When Xi joined them on the balcony overlooking thousands of troops marching with robotic precision, it was the first time the three had been photographed together in one place: Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The trio now embodies the sharpest opposition to the American-led world order, at a time when questions are mounting over whether the White House itself remains committed to it.

"Military parades are always about messaging," said Prof. Yoram Evron of Bar-Ilan University's Asian Studies Department. "The aim is to send a strong message, both domestically and abroad." Indeed, Chinese state media turned the event into the story of the day, with every segment reminding viewers that "Xi is the supreme commander of the army."

According to Evron, the message was twofold: to show the Chinese people their country's rise as a great power and Xi's personal authority, while projecting China's global standing, advanced weapons and industrial strength outward. "China never misses such milestones," he said. "It always extracts the maximum benefit from them."

Alongside Putin and Kim, a long list of leaders stood on the same balcony: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. From Europe came Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, joined by dozens of leaders from Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Noticeably absent were Western leaders and China's immediate neighbors aligned with them – Japan, South Korea and Taiwan – as well as countries often seen as close to Beijing, including Brazil and South Africa.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had attended the summit earlier in the week, stayed away from the parade, a predictable move given the recurring border clashes between India and China that fuel their historic rivalry.

US President Donald Trump, who had staged a smaller military parade just three months earlier, admitted he stayed up late in Washington to watch the event live, calling it "a beautiful ceremony. I thought it was very very impressive. But I understood the reason they were doing it. They were hoping I was watching, and I was watching." The parade marked Japan's defeat in World War II, and Trump voiced frustration that America's role was not acknowledged. "Xi is my friend, but I thought the US should have been mentioned in the speech, since we helped China."

On Twitter earlier, his tone had been harsher, questioning whether Xi would mention the "American blood spilled for China" and accusing Xi, Putin and Kim of "plotting against the United States."

Since coming to power in 2013, Xi has consolidated extraordinary authority. In 2023, he began his third presidential term after scrapping the two-term limit, concentrating power in his hands and reviving a cult of personality not seen in decades. In the military, he has repeatedly purged top defense officials and senior officers under the banner of an "anti-corruption" campaign.

"These are not routine purges," Evron explained. "This is unprecedented in scale and rank – often targeting figures Xi himself had appointed not long before."

The deadline

For years, one date has loomed over discussions of China's military: 2027. Western intelligence assessments say Xi has ordered the People's Liberation Army to be ready by then to invade Taiwan – exactly 100 years after the PLA's founding. The island, which has functioned as an independent state with a democratic government and thriving economy, has been viewed by Beijing as a "renegade province" since 1949, when Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang fled there after losing the civil war to Mao.

Along with the synchronized ranks of troops in Beijing, China's military showcased its full nuclear triad for the first time – land, sea and air-launched nuclear missiles. The parade also featured hypersonic anti-ship missiles, unmanned submarines, fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, high-powered laser weapons and even quadruped robots designed to support ground forces.

Still, most of these weapons remain untested in real combat despite their impressive scale and advanced technology.

Evron noted that the technological highlight was the display of China's aviation breakthroughs – an industry long considered a weakness compared to the US and Russia. "This was the first large-scale public showing of fifth-generation fighter models," he said. "China's missile industry has always been advanced, but aviation was its weak spot. Now it shows it has closed the gap."

The parade unveiled fighters like the J-35A and J-20S. Reports claim the latter can control drones – a capability usually associated with sixth-generation aircraft. China also presented carrier-based aircraft under development.

Unmanned systems were another major feature. In the air, the CH-9 drone was displayed, capable of flying 40 hours at 36,000 feet (11,000 meters) in competition with American models. At sea, the HSU100 unmanned submarine was unveiled, alongside an array of other drones for air, sea and land missions.

China's maritime arena is central to its combat scenarios. New YJ-series cruise missiles were shown, some reportedly hypersonic and dubbed "carrier-killers" after Chinese media released footage of them being tested against mock American carriers. Also presented was the LY-1, a laser system that Chinese reports claim can intercept missiles – and even ships – at minimal cost.

Before reviewing the troops, Xi delivered a speech to more than 50,000 spectators, sending a pointed message across the Pacific. "Humanity once again faces a choice between peace and war, dialogue and confrontation, mutual benefit or zero-sum," Xi declared, adding that "the Chinese people firmly stand on the right side of history." With a thinly veiled reference to the US and its allies, Xi said China was a great nation that would "never be intimidated by bullies" and warned that China was "unstoppable."

As in every parade, the most striking sight was the giant missiles rolling through the avenue. For the first time, China's nuclear triad was displayed together, including the Dongfeng-61, described as its most advanced ballistic missile, and the Dongfeng-C5, which Beijing claims can strike anywhere on Earth with multiple warheads.

The display ended with 80,000 white doves and 80,000 balloons released into the Beijing sky. Like the US, China now demands "peace through strength." But with frequent saber-rattling in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, and the sweeping transformation of China's military now laid bare before the world, many are left wondering just how stable that peace will be.

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The world watched in disbelief as armored vehicles rolled through Seoul, the capital of South Korea – one of East Asia's most stable democracies – while soldiers stormed newspaper offices as if they were terrorist strongholds.

이 여성분 엄청 용감하심 군인한테서 총 빼앗으려고 하시다가 총 겨눠지기까지 하는데 절대로 굴하지 않아 pic.twitter.com/tk0nG1MO2L

— 蕉文 (@youlu_v0v) December 3, 2024

From world leaders to protesters holding hastily made signs outside the National Assembly building in Seoul, everyone seemed stunned by the actions of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The once-popular and capable leader of the conservative People Power Party declared military rule and accused the opposition of collaborating with North Korea, the isolated communist dictatorship.

The president, already embroiled in a budget battle with the Democratic Party and facing several major scandals, made the unexpected decision to upend the system, threatening South Korea's democratic stability that has prevailed since 1987.

What's going on in South Korea?

South Korea is in chaos after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law, saying it's necessary to stop "anti-state forces," especially pro-North Korean leftist groups. The decree bans all political activities, controls the media, and… pic.twitter.com/Fg1bMv3Pb9

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 3, 2024

Dr. Guy Podoler, a Korea expert from the Department of Asian Studies at the University of Haifa, explains: "This primarily appears to be a loss of composure by the president – it's an extraordinary move by any measure. It's unclear what he's thinking or what he hopes to achieve with such an extreme action. We're already seeing opposition to this move within his own party, and it remains uncertain whether the police and military will support him."

"There's considerable criticism of the president, who's viewed as ineffective, but you don't destroy the system because of criticism. I believe Koreans will take to the streets over this move, and we're already seeing the anger building. The Korean people have sacrificed enormously to live in a democracy, and they won't remain silent in the face of current events."

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North Korea is set to reopen the city of Samjiyon, believed to be the birthplace of Kim Jong Il, to foreign tourists in December after nearly five years of COVID-triggered closures. Other cities like Pyongyang may also open up.

Tour operators offer unique travel experiences in North Korea, including visits to key monuments, the Pyongyang metro, and the Demilitarized Zone.

Visitors from other countries need to be accompanied by local guides while visiting North Korea, and join pre-approved tours, with limitations on activities, speech, clothing, and photography.

Tour companies Koryo Tours and KTG Tours have announced the reopening of limited international tourism by the end of 2024, with itinerary details to be finalized in the upcoming days and weeks.

Australia and the United States have travel advisories and bans in place for North Korea due to geopolitical tensions, limited consular services, and past detention cases involving foreigners. United States passports are not valid for travel to North Korea.

Samjiyon was a popular tourist destination for Chinese visitors before the pandemic, and North Korea may prioritize tourists from "friendly" nations like Russia and China, while keeping its borders mostly closed, with exceptions for small tour groups.

Kim Jong Un recently inspected construction sites in Samjiyon and visited a new beachside tourism site under development in Wonsan-Kalma, set to open in May 2025, hinting at the country's tourism revival plans.

China-based tour operators have announced plans for visitors to explore Samjiyon, known for its winter attractions and undergoing extensive redevelopment.

North Korea closed its doors to outsiders at the start of the pandemic in early 2020, leading to severe food shortages, and only recently allowed its own citizens to return after being locked out due to COVID border controls.

Sources: WSVN, SCNow, Robb Report, AseanNow, Evrim Ağacı, SBS, KWTX, Daily Pakistan

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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A North Korean individual, reportedly a military staff sergeant, has defected to South Korea by crossing the heavily guarded border in the eastern part of the Korean peninsula, according to South Korean officials and media reports.

Seoul's military confirmed on Tuesday that they had intercepted "one suspected North Korean individual on the eastern front" and transferred them to the appropriate authorities. The Yonhap news agency reported that the defector is believed to be a staff sergeant in the North Korean military.

A spokesperson for the South Korean military stated, "Relevant authorities are currently investigating and therefore cannot confirm the detailed process of the defection, or the individual's exact motivations and goals."

Defections directly across the border between North and South Korea are considered extremely dangerous and uncommon. Most North Koreans who flee the country typically do so through China or other third countries.

Local media reports suggest that the defector was wearing a North Korean military uniform when apprehended by South Korean authorities while walking along a road near the waterfront in eastern Gangwon province.

A South Korean defense ministry official confirmed that a person believed to be North Korean was taken into custody on the eastern front and was being questioned about their reasons for crossing. The official declined to provide further details.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that they had not detected any unusual North Korean military activity around the time of the defection.

This incident marks the second border crossing between the Koreas in just two weeks, following another North Korean individual who successfully crossed the de facto maritime border in the Yellow Sea on August 8.

These defections come at a time when relations between North and South Korea are at their lowest point in years. North Korea has been intensifying its weapons testing program and has recently been sending balloons filled with trash into South Korean territory.

The number of successful defections from North Korea dropped significantly starting in 2020 when the country sealed its borders, allegedly with shoot-on-sight orders along the China-North Korea border, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, as border controls eased in 2023, the number of defectors reaching South Korea nearly tripled to 196 last year, up from 67 in 2022, according to South Korean government data released in January. The increase included more elite diplomats and students seeking to escape North Korea.

Surprisingly, North Korean tour operations announced last week that the country would reopen its borders to foreign tourists this winter.

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North Korean officials are reportedly seeking foreign medicines to treat ruler Kim Jong Un for health problems related to obesity, including high blood pressure and diabetes, according to South Korean intelligence sources.

South Korean lawmakers Lee Seong-Kwuen and Park Sunwon, quoting the National Intelligence Service (NIS), stated in a joint briefing on Tuesday that Kim's weight has reached approximately 308 pounds, believed to be his heaviest ever. This has put the 40-year-old dictator at a "high risk" of heart disease.

"He could have been suffering from medical conditions that are difficult to deal with the currently available medicine," the lawmakers said, relaying information from the NIS.

The intelligence agency believes Kim's health issues likely stem from a combination of factors. "We concluded that his health issues are likely due to stress, smoking, and drinking," the NIS was quoted as saying by Lee of the ruling People Power party and Park of the opposition Democratic party.

Both Kim's grandfather and father, who previously ruled North Korea, died of heart-related issues. This hereditary predisposition to cardiovascular diseases could pose additional risks if Kim's conditions remain untreated.

The NIS report indicates that Kim has been showing signs of high blood pressure and diabetes since his early 30s. The search for "alternative medicinal substances" has fueled speculation about the severity of his health conditions.

The NIS, which estimates Kim's height at about 5 feet 7 inches, has been using artificial intelligence techniques and forensic video analysis to assess his condition.

Kim's health remains a critical concern internationally, given that he has not formally designated a successor to lead the nuclear-armed nation. The lack of a clear line of succession adds to the geopolitical uncertainty in the region.

Despite the absence of an official announcement, the NIS believes Kim's preteen daughter, Kim Ju Ae, is likely being groomed as the heir apparent. The 10 or 11-year-old has made several public appearances, often accompanying her father at military events and parades since her first public appearance in 2022.

However, the NIS notes that there is still a possibility that Kim Ju Ae might be replaced by her siblings in the future.

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A senior North Korean diplomat based in Cuba has defected to South Korea, marking the highest-ranking diplomatic defection from the North since 2016, according to a report by The Guardian. The South Korean National Intelligence Service confirmed the defection, which took place in November, without providing further details.

The Guardian, citing a report from the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, identified the defector as Ri Il-kyu, a counselor responsible for political affairs at the North Korean embassy in Cuba. The newspaper reported that Ri's role at the embassy included preventing diplomatic ties between South Korea and Cuba. Despite his efforts, the two countries established diplomatic relations in February.

Ri, who joined North Korea's foreign ministry in 1999, told Chosun Ilbo that his decision to defect stemmed from disillusionment with the regime and unfair evaluation of his work. "Every North Korean thinks at least once about living in South Korea. Disillusionment with the North Korean regime and a bleak future led me to consider defection," he said in an interview with the paper.

The diplomat elaborated on the sentiment among North Koreans regarding reunification: "In fact, North Koreans yearn for reunification even more than South Koreans. Everyone believes that reunification is the only way for their children to have a better future. Today, the Kim Jong-un regime has brutally extinguished even the slightest hope left among the people."

Ri described his high-risk escape, saying he flew out of Cuba with his family. "I bought flight tickets and called my wife and kid to tell them about my decision six hours before the defection. I didn't say South Korea, but said, let's live abroad," he explained. According to Ri, the final push for his defection came when his request to travel to Mexico for medical treatment was denied last year. He added that his parents and parents-in-law, who might have faced reprisals for his defection, had already passed away.

JUST IN: Senior NK diplomat defects to SK from Cuba, highest-ranking envoy since 2016. Ri Il-kyu, key diplomatic figure, fled due to regime disillusionment and worsening SK ties. Highlights ongoing tensions.

[Source: The Guardian]

— RSxAI News (@RSxAI_News) July 16, 2024

The number of North Korean defectors arriving in South Korea has decreased in recent years due to strict border controls and high broker fees. During the inaugural North Korean Defectors' Day ceremony, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol promised improved financial support and tax incentives for companies hiring North Korean defectors. In 2023, South Korean government data showed that 196 North Korean defectors arrived in Seoul, a significant drop from the 2,700 recorded a decade ago. Human rights activists note that most recent defectors, like Ri, had been living overseas for extended periods.

The last high-profile defection to South Korea was that of Tae Yong-ho, a former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, in 2016. Other notable defections include Jo Song-gil, the acting ambassador to Italy in 2019, and Ryu Hyun-woo, the acting ambassador to Kuwait in 2021.

North Korea has been closing some of its embassies in what it calls an effort to "rearrange its diplomatic capacity efficiently." South Korea interprets these closures as a sign of the North's struggle under international sanctions. While North Korea maintains an embassy in Cuba, reports indicate that its ambassador returned home in March.

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According to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the number of nuclear weapons and models continues to rise globally, with China's nuclear arsenal growing at a faster rate compared to other nations.

The report states that the nine nuclear-armed states – the United States, Russia, Britain, France, India, China, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel – continued to modernize their nuclear forces in 2023, with some even deploying nuclear weapons during the year.

Regarding Israel, the report notes that while the country does not publicly acknowledge possessing nuclear weapons, it appears to be modernizing its arsenal and potentially upgrading its plutonium production reactor in Dimona.

In total, the nine nuclear-armed states possess 12,121 nuclear warheads, with 9,585 of them being operational as of January 2024. Of these, approximately 3,904 warheads are deployed on missiles and aircraft – an increase of 60 from January 2023 – while the remaining warheads are held in reserve.

The report estimates that around 2,100 warheads are deployed on ballistic missiles and kept in a state of high operational readiness, able to be launched promptly. Nearly all of these high-alert warheads belong to the United States and Russia, which together account for approximately 90% of the global nuclear stockpile. However, for the first time, there are indications that China has also deployed a limited number of warheads in a state of high readiness during peacetime.

According to SIPRI, China's nuclear warhead inventory increased from 410 in January 2023 to 500 in January 2024, and it is expected to continue growing. Experts from the institute estimate that by the end of the decade, depending on how Beijing chooses to build its military forces, China could match or potentially surpass the United States or Russia in the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles it possesses.

"China is expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country," said Hans Kristensen, a senior SIPRI researcher. "But in nearly all of the nuclear-armed states, there are either plans or a significant push to increase nuclear forces."

Wilfred Wan, the director of SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme, emphasized the heightened significance of nuclear weapons in international relations, stating, "'We have not seen nuclear weapons playing such a prominent role in international relations since the Cold War. It is hard to believe that barely two years have passed since the leaders of the five largest nuclear-armed states jointly reaffirmed that 'a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.'"

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North Korea has unveiled the little-known daughter of its leader Kim Jong Un at a missile launch site, attracting keen attention on a fourth-generation member of the dynastic family that has ruled North Korea for more than seven decades.

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The North's state media said Saturday that Kim had observed the launch of its new type of intercontinental ballistic missile with his wife Ri Sol Ju, their "beloved daughter" and other officials the previous day. Kim said the launch of the Hwasong-17 missile – the North's longest-range, nuclear-capable missile – proved he has a reliable weapon to contain US-led military threats.

The main Rodong Sinmun newspaper also released a slew of photos of Kim watching a soaring missile from a distance with his daughter. Other photos showed her with her hair pulled back, wearing a white coat and a pair of red shoes as she walked in hand-in-hand with her father by a huge missile atop a launch truck.

It's the first time for North Korea's state media to mention the daughter or publicize her photos. KCNA didn't provide further details about her like her name and age.

Much of Kim's private life is still unknown. But South Korean media reported Kim married Ri, a former singer, in 2009, and that the couple have three children who were born in 2010, 2013 and 2017.

It wasn't known which child Kim took to the launch site. But in 2013, after a trip to Pyongyang, retired NBA star Dennis Rodman told the British newspaper the Guardian that he and Kim had a "relaxing time by the sea" with the leader's family and that he held Kim's baby daughter, named Ju Ae.

The identities of Kim's children are a source of strong outside interest as the 38-year-old ruler hasn't publicly anointed an heir apparent.

When he disappeared from public eye for an extended period in 2020 amid unconfirmed rumors about health conditions, global media frenzy flared over who was next in line to run an impoverished yet nuclear-armed country. Many observers said at the time that Kim's younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, would step in and run the country if her brother was incapacitated.

The Kim family has governed North Korea with a strong personality following built around key family members since Kim's grandfather, Kim Il Sung, founded the country in 1948. The family's so-called Paektu bloodline, named after the North's most sacred mountain, allows only direct family members to rule the country.

"It's much too soon to infer anything about succession within the Kim regime," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. "However, publicly including his wife and daughter in what Kim claims as a historically successful missile test associates the family business of ruling North Korea with the nation's missile programs."

"This may be an attempt to compensate for how few economic accomplishments Kim has to support his domestic legitimacy," Easley said.

Analyst Cheong Seong-Chang at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea said if Kim continues to take this daughter to key public events, that could signal that she would become Kim's successor.

"Under North Korea's system, the children of Kim Jong Un would have the status of a prince or princess, like in a dynasty. As the Rodong Sinmnum newspaper publicized the photo of the daughter, who took after Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol Ju so much … she has no choice but to live special lives," Cheong said.

Other observers say Kim taking his family to a missile test site indicated he was confident in the weapon's successful launch, or that he might have tried to burnish an image as a normal leader including his family in his affairs.

The disclosure of the Kim family child has taken many North Korea watchers by surprise.

It was only in 2010 when Kim, then 26, was first publicly mentioned in state media as he took a spate of top posts before he inherited power upon his father Kim Jong Il's death the next year. Kim Jong Il was also 31 when he won a key post in the ruling Workers' Party in 1973 – an appointment seen as a key step in the path to succeeding his father Kim Il Sung. Kim Jong Il's position as successor was made public at the party congress in 1980.

But Cheong said Kim Jong Il privately told associates in 1992 that Kim Jong Un, his third and youngest son, would succeed him. Cheong said Kim's aunt and her husband, who had defected to the United States, told him that a song praising Kim Jong Un was played and that Kim Jong Il said Kim Jong Un was his successor on his son's 8th birthday.

"Kim Jong Un may have his daughter, who resembles him the most in his mind, as his successor," Cheong said.

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North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile that landed near Japanese waters Friday in its second major weapons test this month that showed a potential ability to launch nuclear strikes on all of the US mainland.

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The United States quickly condemned the launch and vowed to take "all necessary measures" to guarantee the safety of its mainland and allies South Korea and Japan. Vice President Kamala Harris will separately meet with leaders of allies who are attending a regional forum in Bangkok to discuss North Korea's recent ballistic missile launch.

"We strongly condemn these actions and we again call for North Korea to stop further unlawful, destabilizing acts. On behalf of the United States, I reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our Indo-Pacific alliances," Harris said at the start of the meeting. "Together the countries represented here will continue to urge North Korea to commit to serious and sustained diplomacy."

The North's ongoing torrid run of weapons tests aims to advance its nuclear arsenal and win greater concessions in eventual diplomacy, and the launches come as China and Russia have opposed US moves to toughen sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea's nuclear program.

Video: Reuters

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the ICBM launch from North Korea's capital region around 10:15 a.m. and the weapon flew toward the North's eastern coast across the country. Japan said the ICBM appeared to have flown on a high trajectory and landed west of Hokkaido.

According to South Korean and Japanese estimates, the North Korean missile flew about 6,000-6,100 kilometers (3,600-3,790 miles) at a maximum altitude of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters the altitude suggests the missile was launched on a high angle. He said depending on the weight of a warhead to be placed on the missile, the weapon has a range exceeding 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles), "in which case it could cover the entire mainland United States."

US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the launch "needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing" regional security while showing the North's prioritizing of unlawful weapons programs over the well-being of its people. She said President Joe Biden was briefed over the launch.

"Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement," Watson said.

Hamada, the Japanese defense minister, called the launch "a reckless act that threatens Japan as well as the region and the international community."

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff called the launch "a grave provocation and serious threat" to undermine international and regional peace and security. It said South Korea maintains readiness to make "an overwhelming response to any North Korean provocation" amid close coordination with the United States.

After being briefed over the launch, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered officials to boost security cooperation with the United States and Japan and implement unspecified deterrence steps that were previously agreed upon with the United States. Yoon also ordered officials to push for strong international condemnations and sanctions on North Korea, according to his office.

North Korea also launched an ICBM on Nov. 3, but experts said that weapon failed to fly its intended flight and fell into the ocean after a stage separation. That test was believed to have involved a developmental ICBM called Hwasong-17. North Korea has two other types of ICBM – Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15 – and their test-launches in 2017 proved they could potentially reach parts of the US homeland.

The Hwasong-17 has a longer potential range than the others, and its huge size suggests it's designed to carry multiple nuclear warheads to defeat missile defense systems. Some experts say the Nov. 3 test showed some technological progress in the development of the Hwasong-17, given that in its earlier test in March, the missile exploded soon after liftoff.

It wasn't immediately known if North Korea launched a Hwasong-17 missile again on Friday or something else.

In recent months, North Korea has performed dozens of shorter-range missile tests that it called simulations of nuclear attacks on South Korean and US targets. But it had halted weapons launches for about a week before it fired a short-range ballistic missile on Thursday.

Before Thursday's launch, the North's foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, threatened to launch "fiercer" military responses to the US bolstering its security commitment to its allies South Korea and Japan.

Choe was referring to Biden's recent trilateral summit with Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of a regional gathering in Cambodia. In their joint statement, the three leaders strongly condemned North Korea's recent missile tests and agreed to work together to strengthen deterrence. Biden reaffirmed the US commitment to defend South Korea and Japan with a full range of capabilities, including its nuclear arms.

Choe didn't say what steps North Korea could take but said that "the US will be well aware that it is gambling, for which it will certainly regret."

Pyongyang sees the US military presence in the region as proof of its hostility toward North Korea. It has said its recent series of weapons launches were its response to what it called provocative military drills between the United States and South Korea.

There have been concerns that North Korea might conduct its first nuclear test in five years as its next major step toward bolstering its military capability against the United States and its allies.

North Korea has been under multiple rounds of United Nations sanctions over its previous nuclear and missile tests. But no fresh sanctions have been applied this year though it has conducted dozens of ballistic missile launches, which are banned by UN Security Council resolutions.

That's possible because China and Russia, two of the UN council's veto-wielding members, oppose new UN sanctions. Washington is locked in a strategic competition with Beijing and in a confrontation with Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

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