An intercontinental ballistic missile fired by North Korea into waters off Japan in the early hours of Wednesday morning in what was believed to be its longest-range test yet, it is capable to hit anywhere in US.
The missile was launched by Kim Jong-un’s rogue regimcapableirst for more than two months, in the middle of the night and it flew for around 620 miles, reaching an altitude of 2,800 miles – more than 10 times the height of the international space station – and splashing down 53 minutes later in the Sea of Japan.
The missile ended up within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 nautical miles from its coast. In response to the test, Donald Trump, the US president, said: “It is a situation that we will handle. We will take care of it.” He offered no further details.
The missile reached a greater altitude than any North Korea has previously tested, James Mattis, the US defence secretary, said.
“It went higher frankly than any previous shot they’ve taken, a research and development effort on their part to continue building ballistic missiles that can thre South Korea responded by almost immediately launching three of its own missiles in a show of force. President Moon Jae-in expressed worry that North Korea’s growing missile threat could force the United States to attack the North before it masters a nuclear-tipped long-range missile, something experts say may be imminent.
“If North Korea completes a ballistic missile that could reach from one continent to another, the situation can spiral out of control,” Mr Moon said at an emergency meeting in Seoul, according to his office. “We must stop a situation where North Korea miscalculates and threatens us with nuclear weapons or where the United States considers a pre-emptive strike.”
Mr. Trump spoke to Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, after the test. The two leaders agreed that China needed to play an increased role to tackle the crisis.
In a phone call the leaders “agreed to strengthen our deterrence capability against the North Korean threat,” said Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan’s deputy chief cabinet secretary.
Mr. Abe described the launch as a “violent act” that “can never be tolerated”, while Moon Jae-in, the South Korean president, said the test was a “serious threat” to global peace.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Pyongyang to “desist taking any further destabilizing steps.”
Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary called on North Korea to “change course”.
“This is not the path to security and prosperity for the North Korean people. DPRK regime must change course,” Mr. Johnson said.
The new siren tests were to be accompanied by public service announcements urging residents to “get inside, stay inside and stay tuned”. Announcing the tests, Mr Rapoza said a single 150-kiloton weapon detonated over Pearl Harbor, on the main island of Oahu, would be expected to kill 18,000 people and injure 120,000.
Washington has said that all options are on the table to deal with North Korea’s nuclear programme, including military ones, but that it prefers a peaceful solution.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly pressed China, the North’s main ally, and neighbor, to step up sanctions on Pyongyang. But North Korea has given no indication it is willing to give up its nuclear ambitions, claiming it needs to defend itself against what it claims are the US plans to invade.
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