North Korea confirms successful intercontinental ballistic missile test, Trump attacks Kim Jong-un
North Korea on 4 July successfully test fired its inter-ballistic missile (ICBM) on the orders of leader Kim Jong-un that has drawn ire from US President Donald Trump.
The Hwasong-14 missile was fired at around 9.40 a.m. (local time) from North Pyongan province and it reached an altitude of 2,802 km and flew 933 km for about 40 minutes before hitting a target in the East Sea, reported by state broadcaster.
Referring to North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, US Presidet Donald Trump wrote on Twitter, “North Korea has just launched another missile. Does this guy have anything better to do with his life?”
North Korea has just launched another missile. Does this guy have anything better to do with his life? Hard to believe that South Korea.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2017
....and Japan will put up with this much longer. Perhaps China will put a heavy move on North Korea and end this nonsense once and for all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2017
The US military characterised it as a "land-based, intermediate-range" missile.
"The North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) assessed that the missile launch from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America," the Hawaii-based Pacific Command said in a statement.
"We continue to monitor North Korea's actions closely."
If the experts are to be believed, the missile was was powerful enough to reach Alaska.
First published: 4 July 2017, 14:48 IST