North Korea tests launch of suspected long-range missile, says South Korea

In this photo distributed by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, centre, walks near what it says is a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile on the launcher at an undisclosed location (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP)

North Korea test-launched a suspected long-range missile on Thursday designed to strike the continental US, South Korea’s military said.

The launch comes as the US warned North Korean troops in Russian uniforms are heading toward Ukraine in a likely move to augment Russian forces and join the war.