KIM JONG-UN has declared "with pride that now we have finally realised the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force" in a rare address, having authorised North Korea’s third launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
North Korea announced the missile test yesterday was the successful launch of a Hwasong-15 – the rocket the US has been fearing.
The North Korean newsreader said the missile has reached “the stage of completion” and it is the most powerful ballistic rocket North Korea has ever developed.
North Korea claims the missile was armed with a "super-large warhead" capable of "striking a hole" and hitting “all the US mainland”.
According to South Korea’s military, the latest missile flew some 596 miles (960km) to an altitude of around 2,796 miles (4,500km).
Kim Jong-un’s mouthpiece Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said: “The ICBM Hwasong-15 type weaponry system is an intercontinental ballistic rocket tipped with a super-large heavy warhead which is capable of striking the whole mainland of the US.
“This system has much greater advantages in its tactical and technological specifications and technical characteristics than Hwasong-14 whose test-fire was conducted in July last, and it is the most powerful ICBM which meets the goal of the completion of the rocket weaponry system development set by the DPRK.
“After making a 53-minute flight along its present orbit, the rocket accurately landed in the target waters set in the open sea in the East Sea of Korea.
“The test-fire was conducted in the highest angle launch system and it had no adverse effect on the security of neighbouring countries.
“The development and advance of the strategic weapons of the DPRK are to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country from the US imperialists’ nuclear blackmail policy and nuclear threat and to ensure the peaceful life of the people.
“They would not pose any threat to any country and region as long as the interests of the DPRK are not infringed upon.
“This is our solemn declaration.”
It added: “As a responsible nuclear power and a peace-loving state, the DPRK will make every possible effort to serve the noble purpose of defending peace and stability of the world.”