By Park Si-soo

North Korea fired what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), ending its 75-day pause of weapons testing and shattering expectations that the hiatus might lead to dialogue over the North's nuclear and missile programs.

The missile traveled about 960 kilometers and flew for 53 minutes before landing in the waters within 370 nautical kilometers of Japan's coast, according to officials from South Korea and U.S. governments.

It is North Korea's first provocation since it fired an intermediate-range missile over Japan on Sept. 15.

It flew as high as 4,500 kilometers at the maximum altitude, higher than past launches. It suggests progress by Pyongyang in developing a weapon of mass destruction that could strike the U.S. mainland.

The data suggest the North might have tested an ICBM, officials from both South Korea and U.S. officials said. If it were fired at a standard one, it could have gone over 10,000 km, given its maximum altitude.

"Initial assessment indicates that this missile was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)," Pentagon spokesman Col. Robert Manning said in a statement.

In response, President Moon Jae-in vowed to take the strongest measures possible against the North, condemning the its latest missile launch.

At an emergency meeting of the National Security Council held hours after the launch, Moon said, "I strongly condemn North Korea for staging such reckless provocations."

At the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump said that: "I will only tell you that we will take care of it," adding that: "It is a situation that we will handle." He did not elaborate further.