North Korea claimed it successfully tested a long-range, intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday, saying the “technological breakthrough” now puts the entire US mainland within reach of Kim’s nuclear arsenal, reports Reuters.
Kim’s regime hailed the launch through the state-run news agency, adding that the communist nation had finally “realized the great historic cause” of developing a nuclear arsenal capable of striking the east coast of the United States.
“After watching the successful launch of the new type ICBM Hwasong-15, Kim Jong Un declared with pride that now we have finally realized the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force, the cause of building a rocket power,” said the statement.
According to Korean officials, dictator Kim Jong Un personally authorized and “guided” the “impeccable” launch. South Korean military analysts say the missile reached an altitude of 2,780 miles –nearly ten times higher than the International Space Station- and flew for nearly an hour.
President Trump addressed the international crisis soon after Kim’s launch was detected, telling reporters, “It’s a situation that we will handle.”
“I will only tell you that we will take care of it,” Trump said. “We have Gen. [Jim] Mattis in the room with us, and we’ve had a long discussion on it. It is a situation that we will handle.