North Korea carried out the third launch of its Hwasong-18 solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Monday, and like the two prior launches, this one was a lofted trajectory launch and ended in success.

Unlike previous tests in April and July 2023, however, state media described the latest launch as a “launching drill,” indicating that it was the first operational exercise involving the three-stage missile.

This was not North Korea’s first ICBM launching drill, following an operational exercise of the liquid-propellant Hwasong-17 ICBM in March 2023.

But it is still remarkable that the DPRK