Before Wednesday’s launch, the North’s most recent long-range missile test happened in April, when it launched a solid-fuel ICBM.

Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/11/north-korea-missile-launch-00105824

Developing a solid-fuel ICBM has long been seen as a key goal for the country, as it could make its nuclear missiles harder to spot and destroy during a conflict.

Source: https://japantoday.com/category/world/north-korea-shows-off-largest-ever-number-of-nuclear-missiles-at-nighttime-parade

North Korea said on Sunday it had tested a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) the previous day in a “sudden launching drill” that confirmed its readiness for “mobile and mighty counterattack” against hostile forces.

Source: https://pragativadi.com/north-korea-ballistic-missile-appears-to-have-landed-in-japans-eez/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=north-korea-ballistic-missile-appears-to-have-landed-in-japans-eez

North Korea says Hwasong-18 ICBM test was response to US hostilityreuters.

Source: https://biztoc.com/x/e3b3f85aefbcf1e3?ref=ff

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un claims the Hwasong-18 solid fuel ICBM will 'radically promote' the country's nuclear counter attack capabilities, and experts say it could indeed change the security situation on the peninsula.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11971899/Kim-Jong-warns-enemies-suffer-endless-fear-solid-fuel-missile-test.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said its launch of the existing Hwasong-15 ICBM was organised suddenly without prior notice at the direct order of leader Kim Jong Un.

Source: https://www.theinfostride.com/north-korea-confirms-icbm-test-warns-of-more-powerful-steps-against-rivals/

Russia conducted its first test of the Sarmat ICBM in late April.

Source: https://247wallst.com/special-report/2023/06/21/what-a-nuclear-attack-would-do-to-americas-25-largest-cities/

That's similar to the flight details from a February launch of another ICBM, which experts said demonstrated a potential range to reach deep into the U.S. mainland.

Source: https://japantoday.com/category/politics/seoul-north-korea-fires-another-missile-toward-sea

“The latest launch might possibly serve as a test for future launches of larger missiles like the Hwasong-17 ICBM in a silo.”

Source: https://cyprus-mail.com/2023/03/20/north-koreas-kim-oversees-simulated-nuclear-counterattack-against-us-south-korea/

The researchers simulated an atomic bomb explosion from a typical intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and the resulting blast wave to see how it would affect people sheltering indoors.

Source: http://minorityreporter.net/study-suggest-best-way-to-survive-a-nuclear-attack/

“The surprise ICBM launching drill … is an actual proof of the DPRK strategic nuclear force’s consistent efforts to turn its capacity of fatal nuclear counterattack on the hostile forces into the irresistible one,” the state news agency KCNA said.

Source: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/02/19/news/regional/north-korea-confirms-it-tested-icbm-touts-fatal-nuclear-counterattack-capabilities/

The U.S., South Korea and Japan held a joint naval missile defense exercise on Sunday to counter North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats, the South's navy said, days after the North launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Source: https://japantoday.com/category/politics/us-south-korea-japan-hold-missile-defence-drill-after-north%27s-icbm-launch