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>The missile is likely to have reached an altitude of about 770km (478 miles)

For reference, the international space station is about 220 miles above earth.

Why does a missile need to do so damn high? Is it because it's just a test? Do all missiles go that high?

Getting something high is comparatively easy, getting something fast enough to orbit is a lot harder.

Ballistic missiles follow a ballistic trajectory, there's a high initial impulse and then gravity takes over. Generally, you want the most efficient ballistic trajectory because every kg you save in fuel is 1 more kg for the warhead.

IIRC, it's to do with getting high, and using gravity/momentum to reach targets further away, rather than flying straight to them. That's my very dumbed down understanding anyway.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trajectory_of_a_projectile

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