Tokyo: Japan's defense minister has claimed that North Korea's recently launched intercontinental ballistic missile has a range sufficient to hit the US mainland.
According to the World News Agency, North Korea's Foreign Minister Choi Son-hui has warned that there will be a strong response to any US intervention in the region and the deployment of its troops.
South Korea's military claimed the missile reached an altitude of 6,100 kilometers and traveled 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), but Japan's defense minister made the big reveal.
Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada claimed in his statement that this ballistic missile was capable of hitting up to 15,000 km depending on the weight of its warhead, which means that the US is within its range.
North Korea did not comment on Japan's defense minister's statement, but the US and South Korea have warned North Korea to refrain from any aggression.
It should be noted that North Korea is currently developing a new type of long-range missile, the Hwasong-17. It would be larger than an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads and would be difficult for any country to defend against.
North Korea has already conducted six nuclear tests between 2006 and 2017 and is now preparing for the seventh test. Experts believe it could use the opportunity to test a compact nuclear device.
