A spokesperson for the North Korean Ministry of National Defense stated that the test aimed to verify the reliability of its advanced strategic missile capabilities. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reiterated North Korea's commitment to enhancing its nuclear arsenal.

Earlier, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported that North Korea likely launched a long-range ballistic missile with a high-angled trajectory. Japan’s Defense Minister, Gen Nakatani, also confirmed that North Korea launched an ICBM with an extended flight duration, reaching an altitude of 7,000 km and flying 1,000 km over 86 minutes. This launch follows the US-South Korea defense talks held a day earlier in Washington, D.C.