Australia, US now in range of North Korean nukes

North Korea’s latest intercontinental ballistic missile is ‘‘capable of striking the whole mainland of the US”.

North Koreans cheer as they watch the news broadcast announcing North Korea’s latest successful balistic missile launch. Picture: AP

North Korea fired a “significantly more” powerful intercontinental ballistic missile yesterday, boasting the rocket is “tipped with a super-large heavy warhead which is capable of striking the whole mainland of the US”.

Ending a two-month pause in missile tests, the Hwasong-15 was the Kim regime’s most sophisticated missile, reaching an altitude of 4475km as it flew 950km for 53 minutes, the official KCNA agency said.

The missile’s lofted trajectory suggested an actual range of 13,000km, a Western expert said — enough to hit every major US city and all of Australia.

Hobart is less than 10,000km from Pyongyang.

The launch had achieved the goal of “completing the rocket weaponry system development”, the agency said.

“The ICBM Hwasong-15 type weaponry system is an intercontinental ballistic rocket tipped with super-large heavy warhead which is capable of striking the whole mainland of the US,” KCNA said.

State television brought out Ri Chun-hee, a star presenter who appears only for significant developments, to announce the test.

“Kim Jong-un declared with pride that now we have finally realised the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force, the cause of building a rocket power,” she said.

“The great success in the test-fire of ICBM Hwasong-15 is a priceless victory won by the great and heroic people of the DPRK,” she added, using the official abbreviated name for North Korea.

US President Donald Trump was informed of the launch when the missile was still in the air.

“We will take care of it ... It is a situation that we will handle,” he said later.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia “condemns in the strongest possible terms North Korea’s continued violations of UN Security Council resolutions”.

“We call on the North Korean regime to abandon its illegal program,” she said.

Six minutes after the Hwasong-15 was fired, South Korea launched three “precision strike” missiles hitting a target simulating the North Korean launch site.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in swiftly sought to rule out a US military response.

“The situation of North Korea threatening us with nuclear weapons based on misjudgment or the US keeping a pre-emptive strike in their mind should be prevented,” he said.

He said he regretted that the North had continued with its “habitual provocations” — its 20th missile launch this year — despite Seoul’s “sincere efforts and appeal” for talks.

A South Korean soldier walks past a TV screen showing Kim Jong-Un approving the new ICBM test. Picture: AFP

Scott Lafoy, an expert in missile technology, told NK News that such a short response time was intended to show the North that its own missile crews were constantly ready for action, and could probably kill the ground crew that launched the Hwasong-15.

“But unless they are launching five to 10 minutes before North Korea does, they still aren’t showing that they can stop a missile launch,” he said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ordered an immediate emergency cabinet meeting after the missile landed 370km away from his country in the Sea of Japan. Mr Abe then spoke on the phone with Mr Trump, who this month made North Korea his top priority in visits to Asia.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Pyongyang to “desist taking any further destabilising steps”. “This is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions and shows complete disregard for the united view of the international community,” he said.

The UN Security Council was expected to hold an emergency meeting on the launch overnight.

US analyst David Wright wrote in a post for the Union for Concerned Scientists that the missile could have reached “any part of the continental United States”.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing’s proposal for North Korea to freeze weapons tests in return for the US to suspend military drills in the region was the best approach to ease tensions. Washington has rejected that approach.

“China expresses grave concern and opposition to the relevant launching activity,” he said.

Beijing “strongly urges” North Korea to observe UN resolutions and “stop actions that heighten tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Pyongyang residents gathered in front of a large screen to watch news of the launch.

Jang Kwang- hyok, 32, said the test posed a question for the US President.

“I just want to ask a question to Trump: Can you still dare to backbite about our country? Can you continue to do it even when Hwasong-15 is fired to the US mainland?” he said.

Additional reporting: Agencies