The US has confirmed that North Korea on Tuesday tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called it a “new escalation of the threat” to the US and the world and warned that Washington “will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea”.
Pyongyang earlier said it was its first successful intercontinental ballistic missile test.
US officials believe the North may now be able to fire a missile to Alaska.
However, experts say it cannot accurately hit a target.
In response to the test over the Sea of Japan, the US and South Korea conducted a “combined [military] exercise to show our precision fire capability”, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said in a statement.
The US also asked for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the issue. A closed-door session of the 15-member body is expected later on Wednesday.
In a statement, Mr Tillerson said: “The United States strongly condemns North Korea’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.
“Testing an ICBM represents a new escalation of the threat to the United States, our allies and partners, the region, and the world.”
Mr Tillerson stressed that “global action is required to stop a global threat”.
And he warned that any nation that provided economic or military benefits to the North or failed to fully implement UN Security Council resolution was “aiding and abetting a dangerous regime.
The announcement on North Korea state television said the Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test was overseen by leader Kim Jong-un.
It said the projectile had reached an altitude of 2,802km (1,731 miles) and flew 933km for 39 minutes before hitting a target in the sea.
Source-BBC
