Developing | North Korea tests powerful new ICBM, claims it can strike all continental US
Missile test was the first of any kind by North Korea since September 15 and drew swift condemnations from Seoul, Tokyo and Washington
North Korea said Wednesday it had achieved its goal of becoming a nuclear state after successfully testing a new intercontinental ballistic missile that put the “whole mainland of the US” within its range.
After watching the launch of the Hwasong-15, the North’s leader Kim Jong-un “declared with pride that now we have finally realised the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force”, the official KCNA news agency said.
The test triggered global outrage with US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis saying it marked a significant step toward North Korea building missiles that can “threaten everywhere in the world, basically”.
It was the first missile test of any kind since September 15, and squashed speculation that the North may have held back to open the door to a negotiated solution to a nuclear stand-off.
“The ICBM Hwasong-15 type weaponry system is an intercontinental ballistic rocket tipped with super-large heavy warhead which is capable of striking the whole mainland of the US,” KCNA said.
Watch: Trump responds to North Korea’s missile launch