North Korea touted the success of its latest missile test, which the regime claims is a new type of ballistic missile that is capable of striking the whole U.S. mainland.
Pyongyang said in a statement Wednesday local time that the missile flew for 53 minutes before landing in “targeted waters” in the East Sea of Korea and that the missile can be tipped with a “super-large heavy warhead.”
“[North Korean leader] 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,” North Korea said.
Full text of #DPRK government statement on successful test-fire of ICBM “tipped with super-large heavy warhead which is capable of striking the whole mainland of the U.S.” pic.twitter.com/oESMrKAyAt
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) November 29, 2017
South Korean media first reported the missile launch, the first in more than two months.
Secretary of Defense James Mattis said the missile, which the Pentagon concluded was an intercontinental ballistic missile that flew into the Sea of Japan, flew higher than prior tests, prompting concerns from experts about North Korea’s ability to strike the U.S.
The U.S. military said that the latest missile test posed no threat to the U.S.
In response to the missile test, President Trump indicated that the U.S. is undeterred by the growing threat.
“I will only tell you that we will take care of it,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
