North Korea test fires ballistic missile; U.S., South Korea analysing

North Korea fired what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that landed close to Japan, officials said, with some scientists cautioning that Washington D.C. could now theoretically be within range of Pyongyang's weapons.

The South Korean military said the missile, fired on a steep trajectory, reached an altitude of around 4,500 km (2,800 miles) and flew 960 km (600 miles) before landing in Japan's exclusive economic zone.

The test, Pyongyang's first since mid-September, came a week after U.S. President Donald Trump put North Korea back on a U.S. list of countries it says supports terrorism, allowing it to impose more sanctions.

North Korea



has conducted dozens of ballistic missile tests under its leader, Kim Jong Un, in defiance of international sanctions. Mr. Trump has vowed not to let North Korea develop nuclear missiles that can hit the mainland United States.

U.S., Japanese and South Korean officials all agreed it was likely an ICBM but it did not pose a threat to the United States, its territories or allies, the Pentagon said.

“It went higher, frankly, than any previous shot they’ve taken, a research and development effort on their part to continue building ballistic missiles that can threaten everywhere in the world, basically,” U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters at the White House.