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Kim says North Korean missiles can reach US in Pacific | Kim says North Korean missiles can reach US in Pacific |
(about 3 hours later) | |
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said his country's latest missile tests show it has "the sure capability to attack US interests". | North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said his country's latest missile tests show it has "the sure capability to attack US interests". |
Mr Kim was speaking after twin tests on Wednesday, believed to be of the mid-range Musudan missile. | Mr Kim was speaking after twin tests on Wednesday, believed to be of the mid-range Musudan missile. |
The US and South Korea say the first test failed, but the second travelled about 400km (250 miles) and reached an altitude of 1,000km. | The US and South Korea say the first test failed, but the second travelled about 400km (250 miles) and reached an altitude of 1,000km. |
The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting in response. | The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting in response. |
A spokesman for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the tests were "a deliberate and very grave violation" of North Korea's international obligations. | A spokesman for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the tests were "a deliberate and very grave violation" of North Korea's international obligations. |
Existing UN resolutions brought in because of its continuing nuclear and conventional weapons programme ban North Korea from using ballistic missile technology. | Existing UN resolutions brought in because of its continuing nuclear and conventional weapons programme ban North Korea from using ballistic missile technology. |
'A great event' | 'A great event' |
North Korea's KCNA state news agency said tests had been successfully conducted, without endangering surrounding countries. | North Korea's KCNA state news agency said tests had been successfully conducted, without endangering surrounding countries. |
Mr Kim, who as always was said to have supervised the test, said it had been "a great event" that strengthened the North's nuclear attack capacity. | |
"We have the sure capability to attack in an overall and practical way the Americans in the Pacific operation theatre," he said. | "We have the sure capability to attack in an overall and practical way the Americans in the Pacific operation theatre," he said. |
The Musudan missile is believed by outside observers to have range of up to 4,000km (2,500 miles) - far enough to hit the US territory and military bases in Guam - though it has never been fully flight tested. | The Musudan missile is believed by outside observers to have range of up to 4,000km (2,500 miles) - far enough to hit the US territory and military bases in Guam - though it has never been fully flight tested. |
Four tests in recent months have ended in failure. | Four tests in recent months have ended in failure. |
The first missile launched from the North's eastern coast on Wednesday is believed to have flown about 150km before landing in the sea. | The first missile launched from the North's eastern coast on Wednesday is believed to have flown about 150km before landing in the sea. |
But the fifth test, launched hours later, travelled at least 400km and reached a height of 1,000km. | But the fifth test, launched hours later, travelled at least 400km and reached a height of 1,000km. |
KCNA said it had "provided a sure sci-tech guarantee for developing the system of strategic weapons". | KCNA said it had "provided a sure sci-tech guarantee for developing the system of strategic weapons". |
South Korea has not officially said whether it is considering it a successful launch. | South Korea has not officially said whether it is considering it a successful launch. |
But an analyst at the state-funded Science and Technology Policy Institute said it had to be seen as such. | But an analyst at the state-funded Science and Technology Policy Institute said it had to be seen as such. |
"No other missiles fired by North Korea have ever flown that high," Lee Choon-geun was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. | "No other missiles fired by North Korea have ever flown that high," Lee Choon-geun was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. |
Japan said the launch showed "a certain level of capability" and could lead to a further strengthening of North Korea's ballistic missile capabilities that could cover Japanese territory. | Japan said the launch showed "a certain level of capability" and could lead to a further strengthening of North Korea's ballistic missile capabilities that could cover Japanese territory. |
In addition to a flurry of missile tests, North Korea conducted its fourth test of a nuclear weapon in January. | |
But despite its claims, it remains unclear whether it has the ability to make a nuclear device small enough to mount onto a warhead. | But despite its claims, it remains unclear whether it has the ability to make a nuclear device small enough to mount onto a warhead. |