North Korea Tested a Missile That Could Reach Anywhere in the US

by Alex Lockie

In an undated photo released by the state news agency of North Korea, in Pyongyang, on July 5, 2017

• North Korea launched a missile on Tuesday that experts estimate could reach any part of the continental US.
• The launch was likely the most advanced by North Korea yet.
• The test took place in the middle of the night and during what’s usually North Korea off-season, suggesting it is becoming sneakier.

North Korea tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Tuesday night that experts say could reach any part of the continental US.

The missile flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and landed in the sea east of Japan, but it crested at a remarkable 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) above the Earth’s surface, making it the highest and longest-lasting flight North Korea has completed to date.

North Korea had previously tested ICBMs, but those did not display ranges sufficient to hit important targets on the US’s East Coast.

David Wright, a physicist and the codirector of the Union of Concerned Scientists’ global security program, wrote recently that North Korea’s latest missile could likely fly 8,100 miles on a normal trajectory, enough to reach anywhere in the continental US.

But while the test demonstrated range, it’s still unknown how credible the launch was. An effective ICBM has to carry a payload of about 1,000 pounds, and it’s unclear if this launch had a reduced load.

The shaded area shows the range of North Korea’s latest missile, if fired from within the country. Business Insider