North Korea has tested a banned intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time since 2017.
Japanese officials said it flew 1,100 km (684 miles) and fell in Japanese waters after flying for over an hour.
ICBMs, designed for nuclear arms delivery, could extend North Korea’s strike range as far as the US mainland.
The test is being seen as a major escalation by the North and has been condemned by its neighbours and the US.
North Korea has launched a flurry of missile tests in recent weeks.
Thursday’s missile appeared to be more powerful than the one North Korea fired five years ago, reaching an altitude of more than 6,000km (3,730 miles), according to Japanese officials.
South Korea’s military responded with five missile tests of its own, from land, sea and air. The United States condemned the North for a “brazen violation” of UN Security Council resolutions.
BBC