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North Korea missile launch - live updates: Kim Jong-un regime holds wild celebrations after firing ICBM towards Japan

Hermit state fires highest missile it has ever launched

Samuel Osborne
Wednesday 29 November 2017 05:45 EST
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North Korea announces test of new long-range missile

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After two months of relative quiet North Korea ahas launched its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile, claiming it puts the entire US mainland in range of its nuclear weapons.

The latest test, which was the highest and longest any North Korean missile had flown, came a week after Donald Trump put North Korea back on a US list of countries it says support terrorism, allowing it to impose more sanctions.

In a government statement released through state media, North Korea said the Hwasong-15 (Mars-15), the "greatest ICBM," could be armed with a "super-large heavy nuclear warhead" and reached a height of 4,475km (2,780 miles), travelling 950km (590 miles) before accurately hitting a sea target near Japan, similar to the flight data announced by South Korea's military.

"After watching the successful launch of the new type ICBM Hwasong-15, Kim Jong-un declared with pride that now we have finally realized the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force, the cause of building a rocket power," according to a statement read by a television presenter.

North Korea described itself as a "responsible nuclear power", saying its strategic weapons were developed to defend itself from "the US imperialists' nuclear blackmail policy and nuclear threat".

South Korea responded almost immediately by launching three of its own missiles in a show of force.

Moon Jae-in, the South's President, expressed his worry the North's missile threat could force the United States to attack before it masters a nuclear-tipped long-range missile.

"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."

Donald Trump says 'we will take care of it' after North Korea fires missile

In response to the launch, Mr Trump said the United States will "take care of it." The US President told reporters: "It is a situation that we will handle." He did not elaborate.

The UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting for Wednesday afternoon at the request of Japan, the US and South Korea.

Additional reporting by agencies

Samuel Osborne29 November 2017 13:56

Donald Trump has spoken with Xi Jinping, the President of China, about North Korea's latest missile launch.

The White House said Mr Trump emphasised China must "use all available levers to convince North Korea to end its provocations and return to the path of denuclearisation."

Samuel Osborne29 November 2017 14:37

Donald Trump has tweeted to say "additional major sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today."

"This situation will be handled!" he added.

Samuel Osborne29 November 2017 14:50

A White House statement about the phone conversation said Mr Trump also made clear "the determination of the United States to defend ourselves and our allies.

Samuel Osborne29 November 2017 15:00

Xi Jinping, the President of China, told Donald Trump it is Beijing's unswerving goal to maintain peace and stability in northeast Asia and denuclearise the Korean peninsula, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Samuel Osborne29 November 2017 15:08
Samuel Osborne29 November 2017 15:37

The United States will impose additional sanctions against North Korea very shortly, a White House spokesperson has said in an interview with Fox News.

Samuel Osborne29 November 2017 15:50

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