N.korea: All of US in range of strike now

NORTH KOREA/US: North Korea said yesterday it had conducted another successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that proved its ability to strike America’s mainland, drawing a sharp warning from US President Donald Trump and a rebuke from China.

However, Trump wrote later on Twitter that he was ‘‘very disappointed’’ in China and that Beijing had done ‘‘nothing’’ for the United States in regards to North Korea, something he would not allow to continue. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally supervised the midnight launch of the missile on Friday night and said it was a ‘‘stern warning’’ for the United States that it would not be safe from destruction if it tries to attack, the North’s official KCNA news agency said.

North Korea’s state television broadcast pictures of the launch, showing the missile lifting off in a fiery blast in darkness and Kim cheering with military aides.

‘‘The test-fire reconfirmed the reliability of the ICBM system, demonstrated the capability of making a surprise launch of the ICBM in any region and place any time, and clearly proved that the whole U.S. mainland is in the firing range of the DPRK missiles, (Kim) said with pride,’’ KCNA said. DPRK is short for the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

China, the North’s main ally, said it opposed North Korea’s ‘‘launch activities that run counter to Security Council resolutions and the common wishes of the international community.’’

A foreign ministry statement added: ‘‘At the same time, China hopes all parties act with caution, to prevent tensions from continuing to escalate, to jointly protect regional peace and stability.’’ Reuters