North Korea says it can test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at any time from any location chosen by leader Kim Jong-un. Foreign ministry spokesman said that the United States’ hostile policy was to blame for its arms development, official KCNA news agency reported. Kim said on January 1st his nuclear-capable country was close to test-launching an ICBM.
Ashton Carter, the US Defence Secretary, said that North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes constitute a serious threat to the US.
He said Washington is prepared to shoot down a North Korean missile launch or test if it were coming towards US territory, or the territory of America’s friends and allies. The US said on Thursday that North Korea had demonstrated a qualitative improvement in its nuclear and missile capabilities after an unprecedented level of tests last year.