North Korea’s second ICBM test puts much of U.S. within range

PYONGYANG, North Korea — North Korea on Friday test-fired its second intercontinental ballistic missile, which flew longer and higher than the first according to its wary neighbors, leading analysts to conclude that a wide swath of the U.S., including Los Angeles and Chicago, is now within range of Pyongyang’s weapons.

Japanese government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the missile, launched late Friday night, flew for about 45 minutes — about five minutes longer than the ICBM North Korea test-fired on July 4. The missile was launched on very high trajectory, which limited the distance it traveled, and landed west of Japan’s island of Hokkaido.

“We assess that this missile was an intercontinental ballistic missile, as had been expected,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said in Washington.

Analysts had estimated that the North’s first ICBM could have reached Alaska, and said Friday that the latest missile appeared to extend that range significantly.

the opposite effect,” he said. David Wright, a physicist Mr. Trump said the and co-director of the weapons and tests “further global security program at isolate North Korea, the Union of Concerned weaken its economy, and Scientists, said in Washington deprive its people.” He that if reports of the vowed to “take all necessary missile’s maximum altitude steps” to ensure the and flight time are security of the U.S. and its correct, it would have a allies. theoretical range of about The U.S. and South 6,500 miles. That means it Korea conducted joint livefire could have reached Los exercises soon after the Angeles, Denver or Chicago. ICBM test. The U.S. 8th Army said Saturday’s

Bruce Klingner, a training event utilizing the Korean and Japanese affairs Army Tactical Missile specialist at the Heritage System and South Korea’s Foundation think Hyunmoo Missile II was tank in Washington, said, conducted to demonstrate “It now appears that a significant their “precision firing capability” portion of the continental and “exercise assets United States is countering North within range” of North Korea’s missile launch.” Korean missiles. Washington and its allies

President Donald have watched with Trump issued a statement growing concern as Pyongyang condemning the missile has made significant test as a threat to the world, progress toward its goal of and rejecting North having all of the U.S. Korea’s claim that nuclear within range of its missiles weapons ensure its security. to counter what it labels as “In reality, they have U.S. aggression.