Break in weapons testing ends with missile launch

North Korea has abruptly ended a 10-week pause in its weapons testing by launching what the Pentagon said was an intercontinental ballistic missile, possibly its longest-range test yet, a move that will escalate already high tensions with Washington.

Pentagon spokesman Colonel Rob Manning said the missile was launched from Sain Ni, North Korea, and travelled about 620 miles before landing in the Sea of Japan within 200 nautical miles of Japan’s coast.

It flew for 53 minutes, Japan’s defence minister said.

South Korea, a key US ally separated from the North by a highly militarised border, responded with shorterrange missile tests of its own to mimic striking the North Korea launch site, which it said lies not far from the North Korean capital.

The launch is North Korea’s first since it fired an intermediate range missile over Japan on September 15, and it appeared to shatter chances that the hiatus could lead to renewed diplomacy over the reclusive country’s nuclear programme.

US officials have sporadically floated the idea of direct talks with North Korea if it maintained restraint.

An intercontinental ballistic missile test is considered particularly provocative.

It would signal further progress by Pyongyang in developing a weapon of mass destruction that could strike the US mainland, which President Donald Trump has vowed to prevent, using military force if necessary.

In response to the launch, Mr Trump said the United States will “take care of it”.