This photo distributed by the North Korean government shows what was said to be the launch of a Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile, ICBM, in North Korea鈥檚 northwest, Tuesday, July 4, 2017. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this photo. North Korea claimed to have tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile in a launch Tuesday, a potential game-changing development in its push to militarily challenge Washington 鈥� but a declaration that conflicts with earlier South Korean and U.S. assessments that it had an intermediate range. (Korean Central 黑料社 Agency/Korea 黑料社 Service via AP)
WASHINGTON鈥擭orth Korea has test launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time, the United States confirmed Tuesday as it warned of an escalating threat from Pyongyang and insisted America would never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea.
The North鈥檚 possession of a working ICBM 鈥� something US President Donald Trump had vowed 鈥渨on鈥檛 happen鈥� 鈥� represents a milestone for the reclusive communist regime as it pushes ahead with a weapons program it says it needs to ward off invasion.
Some experts said such a missile could reach Alaska or go even further toward the US mainland. But there was widespread skepticism of the North鈥檚 claim of the missile being able to 鈥渟trike any place in the world.鈥�
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un called the missile 鈥渁 gift鈥� to 鈥淎merican bastards鈥� on the US Independence Day holiday, the Korean Central 黑料社 Agency reported.
Pyongyang鈥檚 having such a weapon could radically alter the calculus for countries seeking to thwart the military goals of the isolated state.
North Korea鈥檚 official news agency announced that the ICBM is capable of carrying a 鈥渓arge, heavy nuclear warhead鈥� that can survive re-entry into the Earth鈥檚 atmosphere.
READ: North Korea claims it tested first intercontinental missile
It quoted leader Kim, who personally oversaw the test, as having inspected the Hwasong-14 missile and 鈥渆xpressed satisfaction, saying it looked as handsome as a good-looking boy and was well made.鈥�
The North鈥檚 Academy of Defence Science, which developed the missile, said it reached an altitude of 2,802 kilometers and flew 933 kilometers, calling it the 鈥渇inal gate to rounding off the state nuclear force.鈥�
US confirmation of the launch came in a statement from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
鈥淭he United States strongly condemns North Korea鈥檚 launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Testing an ICBM represents a new escalation of the threat to the United States, our allies and partners, the region, and the world,鈥� Tillerson said.
He added: 鈥淎s we, along with others, have made clear, we will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea.鈥�
The United States requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, which is expected to take place on Wednesday.
Russia and China issued a joint appeal to ease soaring tensions between the United States and North Korea.
READ: Russia, China offer plan to ease North Korea tension
But that call was shrugged off by Washington and Seoul, which fired ballistic missiles simultaneously in a drill Wednesday simulating an attack on the North鈥檚 leadership, South Korea鈥檚 Joint Chiefs of Staff said, 鈥渁s a strong message of warning.鈥�
The live-fire training was held at the order of President Moon Jae-In, Yonhap news agency said, who backs engagement with Pyongyang to bring it to the negotiating table.
鈥淧resident Moon said North Korea鈥檚 serious provocation required us to react with more than just a statement and that we need to clearly show our missile defense readiness to North Korea,鈥� it cited Seoul鈥檚 presidential Blue House as saying.
The missiles deployed in the drill feature 鈥渄eep strike precision capability,鈥� enabling the United States and South Korea 鈥渢o engage the full array of time critical targets under all weather conditions,鈥� the US military said.
More sanctions?
China and Russia called for a moratorium on further missile and nuclear tests by Pyongyang after a meeting between leaders Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in Moscow. They also called for a simultaneous suspension of large-scale US-South Korea military exercises.
鈥淭he opposing sides should start negotiations and affirm general principles of their relations including the non-use of force, rejection of aggression and peaceful coexistence,鈥� the joint statement said.
Trump has been pinning his hopes on China 鈥� North Korea鈥檚 main diplomatic ally 鈥� to solve the crisis, but troubles have escalated since the US leader took office in January.
There are still doubts whether the North can miniaturize a nuclear weapon to fit a missile nose cone, or if it has mastered the technology needed for it to survive re-entry into the Earth鈥檚 atmosphere.
But since Kim came to power there have been advances including three nuclear tests and multiple rocket launches.
Following the launch, Trump asked on Twitter: 鈥淒oes this guy have anything better to do with his life?鈥�
READ: Trump criticizes Kim Jong Un after latest missile launch
The United Nations has imposed multiple sets of sanctions on Pyongyang, which claims that it needs nuclear arms to defend itself against the threat of invasion.
The European Union said Tuesday that it may consider further sanctions against the North, having last month expanded a blacklist.
鈥楾he threat has grown鈥�
US Pacific Command said the test involved a land-based, intermediate range missile that flew for 37 minutes before splashing down in the Sea of Japan.
Moscow鈥檚 defense ministry called it medium-range. But Tokyo 鈥� in whose exclusive economic zone it came down 鈥� estimated the maximum altitude to have 鈥済reatly exceeded鈥� 2,500 kilometers, prompting arms control specialist Jeffrey Lewis to respond on Twitter: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 it. It鈥檚 an ICBM. An ICBM that can hit Anchorage not San Francisco, but still.鈥�
David Wright, of the Union of Concerned Scientists, wrote on the organization鈥檚 allthingsnuclear blog that the available figures implied the missile had 鈥渁 maximum range of roughly 6,700 km on a standard trajectory.鈥�
鈥淭hat range would not be enough to reach the lower 48 states or the large islands of Hawaii, but would allow it to reach all of Alaska.鈥�
Antoine Bondaz, an analyst at the Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris, said the launch was a 鈥渉umiliation鈥� for Trump after his repeated attempts to get China to rein in Pyongyang.
South Korea鈥檚 Moon warned the North against crossing 鈥渢he bridge of no return.鈥�
Washington, South Korea鈥檚 security guarantor, has more than 28,000 troops in the country. Fears of conflict peaked earlier this year as Trump鈥檚 administration suggested military action was an option.