North Korea may launch an intercontinental ballistic missile during the US elections.

North Korea is ready to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and may carry out this launch during the US presidential elections. This is reported by Reuters with reference to South Korean lawmakers and military intelligence.

According to South Korean officials, North Korea may try to draw attention to its strategic weapons development by launching a long-range missile or conducting nuclear tests. They believe that a mobile launch platform has been deployed at a possible ICBM test site and reentry location of the missile's warhead, possibly around the election date on November 5.

The Defense Intelligence Agency is not convinced that the missile has already been loaded onto the launch platform but acknowledges that it may have been transported to the site.

North Korea has conducted several ICBM tests that had steep trajectories to ensure the missiles fell short distances. This was done to ensure safety and avoid political consequences of launching a missile into the Pacific Ocean. However, to develop an ICBM, it is necessary to conduct a launch with a standard trajectory to verify the warhead's capability to reenter the atmosphere and strike the intended target.