North Korea: Late-night launch was an intercontinental ballistic missile, US officials say

North Korea has fired what is believed to be another intercontinental ballistic missile, which may have landed in the sea off Japan.

The launch marked the second time this month North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has demonstrated a theoretical capability of striking a portion of US territory.

The missile was launched on a heightened trajectory that limited the distance it travelled, but data collected by the US showed it was theoretically capable of traveling at least 5,500 kilometres on a normal trajectory.

That is the minimum distance to be classified by the US as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

US President Donald Trump has said he would not allow North Korea to obtain an ICBM that could deliver a nuclear warhead.

“We assess that this missile was an intercontinental ballistic missile, as had been expected,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said.

He said the missile was estimated to have travelled about 1,000 kilometres before landing in the Sea of Japan, while the North American Aerospace Defense Command determined the missile did not pose a threat to North America.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters that officials were analysing the launch and that he had called a meeting of the National Security Council.

Source: North Korea: Late-night launch was an intercontinental ballistic missile, US officials say – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)