An intercontinental ballistic missile that was fired by North Korea on Friday (November 18) and landed near Japanese waters showed a potential ability to reach and strike the entire US, Japan has said.
According to South Korean and Japanese estimates, the missile flew about 3,600-3,790 miles at a maximum altitude of 1,000 – 620 miles. Japanese defence minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters the altitude suggests the missile was launched on a high angle.
He said depending on the weight of a warhead to be placed on the missile, the weapon has a range exceeding 9,320 miles, “in which case it could cover the entire mainland United States”. Hamada called the launch “a reckless act that threatens Japan as well as the region and the international community”.
