![](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/720x405\/p05fcx2m.jpg\")
<\/p>\nNorth Korea says it has successfully tested a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach the whole of the continental United States.<\/p>\n
State television claimed that Pyongyang had now achieved its mission of becoming a nuclear state.<\/p>\n
The Hwasong-15 missile, which it said was its “most powerful”, was launched in darkness early on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
It landed in Japanese waters but flew higher than any other missile the North has previously tested<\/p>\n
State news agency KCNA said that the missile reached an altitude of 4,475km (2,780 miles) and flew 950km in 53 minutes.<\/p>\n
The projectile, fired at a steep incline, did not fly over Japan as some have done in the past, and landed about 250km short of its northern coast, according to Japanese officials.<\/p>\n
KCNA added that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who personally signed off on the launch, “declared with pride that now we have finally realised the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force, the cause of building a rocket power”.<\/p>\n
The report said that “as a responsible nuclear power and a peace-loving state”, North Korea would “make every possible effort to serve the noble purpose of defending peace and stability of the world”.<\/p>\n
It said its weapons, meant as a defence against “the US imperialists’ nuclear blackmail policy”, would “not pose any threat to any country” as long as North Korean interests were not infringed upon.<\/p>\n
“This is our solemn declaration.”<\/p>\n
Could its missile really reach the US?<\/p>\n
An analysis by\u00a0the US-based Union of Concerned Scientists found that\u00a0the missile could have travelled more than 13,000km if it was on a standard trajectory, thus reaching “any part of the continental United States”.<\/p>\n
But it added it seemed likely that the missile had a very light mock warhead – which meant that it could be incapable of carrying a nuclear payload, which is much heavier, for that distance.<\/p>\n
North Korea however claims that the Hwasong-15 could reach mainland US carrying a “super-large heavy warhead”.<\/p>\n
How is the world reacting?<\/strong><\/p>\n The test has prompted swift international condemnation. The UN Security Council is due to convene an emergency session to discuss the latest test.<\/p>\n The launch is just the latest in a series of weapons tests that have raised tensions to unprecedented levels. Pyongyang last launched a ballistic missile in September, the same month it conducted its sixth nuclear test.<\/p>\n North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear and missile programme despite this global condemnation and sanctions.<\/p>\n Prior to North Korea’s statement,\u00a0US defence secretary James Mattis said\u00a0the missile launch “went higher, frankly, than any previous shots they have taken”, and said North Korea poses a worldwide threat. US President Donald Trump was briefed while the missile was still in the air, the White House said. Afterwards he said: “We will take care of it.”<\/p>\n Japan and South Korea have condemned the test, with the South launching its own missile test in response.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" North Korea says it has successfully tested a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach the whole of the continental United States. State television claimed that Pyongyang had now achieved its mission of becoming a nuclear state. The Hwasong-15 missile, which it said was its “most powerful”, was launched in darkness early on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[107],"tags":[3,7523,160],"yoast_head":"\n![](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/720x405\/p05phl3s.jpg\")
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