North Korea heralds ‘final step towards nuclear state able to strike anywhere’
After Pyongyang claims successful launch of intercontinental ballistic missile, China and Russia call on US and South Korea to suspend military drills in exchange for no further tests
North Korea on Tuesday said it had successfully tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile, catching military experts off-guard and ratcheting up pressure on its Asian neighbours to take a harder line against the hermit nation.
China, Pyongyang’s main ally, issued a joint statement with Russia that calls for a halt to missile tests in exchange for the US and South Korea suspending their large-scale military exercises.
The launch comes at a sensitive time in global affairs. Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to meet US counterpart Donald Trump at a G20 summit in Germany in the coming days, and South Korean leader Moon Jae-in wrapped up a visit to the White House last week.
The missile was launched at 9.40am and flew about 933km, reaching an altitude of 2,802km, before falling into the sea inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone after a 39 minute flight, the North’s official media reported.
The launch was tracked by the US and Japan, which said the missile reached an altitude that “greatly exceeded” 2,500km.