Washington - The largest ever intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system was recently used by North Korea in two secretive launches. The launches could most likely make way for a resumption of long-range tests, as reported by U.S. and South Korean officials.

North Korea halted its ICBM and nuclear tests in 2017 after launching its first missiles capable of reaching the United States. It has also not performed a nuclear weapons test since, but leader Kim Jong Un has warned of a return to testing both.

The escalation in North Korea tensions comes as South Korea on Wednesday elected a new conservative president, Yoon Suk-yeol who said preemptive strikes may be needed to counter any imminent attack by the North and has vowed to buy American THAAD missile interceptors, while remaining open to restarting stalled denuclearisation talks.

"The purpose of these tests, which did not demonstrate ICBM range, was likely to evaluate this new system before conducting a test at full range in the future, potentially disguised as a space launch," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement.

The U.S. Treasury, which has imposed a range of sanctions on North Korea over its weapons programmes, will announce new actions on Friday to help prevent North Korea "accessing foreign items and technology that enable it to advance its weapons programmes," a senior U.S. administration official told reporters on Thursday in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Japan is also considering imposing additional sanctions against North Korea, as well as other diplomatic options, Kishida told reporters after a phone call with the South Korean president-elect.

Washington called the ICBM tests a "serious escalation requiring a united global response". Seoul issued strong condemnation and urged Pyongyang to immediately stop actions that heighten tension.
-Reuters