A U.S. official has stated that North Korea is currently working on a new long-range missile system.

• A senior U.S. administration official stated that North Korea is currently working on a new long-range missile system.
• The official said the tests were carried out in February and March.
• The ICBM system was first discovered by world leaders during the October 2020 Workers' Party parade in North Korea.

The Biden administration announced on Thursday that North Korea had recently conducted two tests of a new intercontinental ballistic missile system, increasing tensions between Kim Jong Un and the U.S. at a critical moment in global politics.

An administration official, speaking anonymously to share details of the government's threat assessment, stated that the tests were conducted in February and March. North Korea's last ICBM test took place in November 2017.

In October 2020, North Korea's Workers' Party parade, viewed as a military celebration, revealed the ICBM system capable of carrying nuclear weapons to world leaders for the first time.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has made a serious escalation, according to a senior administration official who spoke on a call with reporters.

The launches are a brazen violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, vehemently raise tensions, and risk destabilizing the security situation, the person stated.

The official stated that the Biden administration chose to broadly disseminate this intelligence in order to rally allies and partners in opposing the DPRK's further development of such weapons.

The Pentagon's combatant command responsible for the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, will increase surveillance activity in the Yellow Sea and improve the readiness of its ballistic missile defense forces in the area.

The Department of Treasury will reveal "new measures to hinder the DPRK from obtaining foreign goods and technology that aid its prohibited weapons development," according to an official statement.

In March, Pyongyang carried out its first missile test under President Joe Biden's leadership.

Officials remained tight-lipped about the type, location, and success rate of the missile launch, with Pentagon press secretary John Kirby refusing to provide any comment.

Nearly a dozen ballistic missile tests have been conducted by North Korea during Biden's presidency. When asked by CNBC to estimate Pyongyang's potential arsenal, a senior administration official remained silent.

The Biden administration official stated that "diplomacy is still an option."

The negotiations with North Korea broke down over a year ago when the U.S. refused to provide sanctions relief in exchange for Pyongyang's dismantling of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles, despite initial progress made by the Trump administration.

Under the leadership of third-generation North Korean leader Kim, the reclusive state has carried out its most potent nuclear test, launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile, and threatened to send missiles into the waters near the U.S. territory of Guam.

Over the past decade, Kim has surpassed the combined missile launches of his father and grandfather in just one year.

North Korea is the only nation to have tested nuclear weapons this century.