North Korea launches ICBM that could hit U.S. mainland

UPDATE: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Saturday the second test of an intercontinental ballistic missile proved his country could hit the U.S. mainland, adding that the launch sends a “serious warning” to the United States, which has been “meaninglessly blowing its trumpet” with threats of war and stronger sanctions, according to the Korean Central News Agency. Analysts said Friday’s successful test could put Los Angeles, Denver, and Chicago in range of North Korean weapons. President Donald Trump condemned the missile test, rejecting North Korea’s claim that nuclear weapons ensure its security. “In reality, they have the opposite effect,” he said, vowing to “take all necessary steps” to ensure the security of the United States and its allies.

OUR EARLIER REPORT (7/28/17, 03:14 p.m.): North Korea launched its second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) of the month Friday. The missile, launched at a heightened trajectory to limit its distance, landed in the Sea of Japan. It flew for 45 minutes, longer than any previous launches. A Pentagon spokesman confirmed the missile was an ICBM capable of traveling at least 3,400 miles and reaching U.S. territory, though this missile only traveled 620 miles before falling into the ocean. Jeffrey Lewis, a missile and nonproliferation expert from Middlebury College, said initial data suggested Friday’s missile, if launched at a normal trajectory, could have traveled 6,200 miles and reached the heart of the U.S. mainland. North Korea launched its first ICBM on July 4. Analysts said if it had been launched at a normal trajectory, it could have reached parts of Alaska or Hawaii.