NORTH KOREA CELEBRATES SUCCESS OF MISSILE LAUNCH

SEOUL: North Korea on Monday celebrated the launch of what appeared to be its longest-range ballistic missile yet tested in a bid to bring the US mainland within reach, saying it was capable of carrying a “heavy nuclear warhead”.

Leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the test on Sunday, the official Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) said, and pictures by state media showed him gazing at the missile in a hangar before the launch.

In others he gleefully clasped hands with officers and staff after the black missile — named as the Hwasong-12 — ascended into the sky.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the test was “dangerous”, but he warned that Pyongyang was being intimidated and called for a peaceful solution to regional tensions.

Russia said the missile landed about 500 kilometres from its territory and posed no threat.

“We are categorically against the expansion of the club of nuclear powers,” Putin said.

“We consider (the missile test) counter-productive, harmful and dangerous.”

But, he added: “We must stop intimidating North Korea and find a peaceful solution to this problem.”

The US was in talks with China to reach agreement on a stronglyworded condemnation by the UN Security Council, diplomats said.

The Security Council will hold a closed-door meeting on Tuesday.

The council has repeatedly condemned North Korea over its missile launches in agreed statements, but diplomats told AFP the US was seeking tougher language this time to send a firm message to Pyongyang.