N Korean missile could travel 15,000Km, reach US on normal trajectory

TOKYO, Nov 18 (TASS): The North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile launched on Friday could have covered a distance of about 15,000 kilometers and reached the continental US on its normal trajectory, Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters.

"Calculations based on flight trajectories show that the range [of the missile] could exceed 15,000 km, depending on the weight of the warhead and other factors. Thus, the US mainland is in range," he said.

Hamada said that according to preliminary data, the missile flew about 1,000 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 6,000 kilometers, that is, it followed a steep trajectory. It was in the air for about 69 minutes and landed roughly within Japan's exclusive economic zone 200 kilometers west of the island of Oshima-Oshima, belonging to the northern prefecture of Hokkaido.

The missile launch came a day after North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui said that Pyongyang would respond in direct proportion to the strengthening of the US deterrence that the leaders of the Republic of Korea, the US and Japan had agreed upon during the trilateral summit in Cambodia.

Meanwhile, US Vice President Kamala Harris and leaders from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada vowed to pressure North Korea as they held urgent talks Friday on Pyongyang's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Hours after North Korea fired a missile that Japan said was capable of striking the US mainland, Harris met the leaders of close US partners on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit in Bangkok.

"We strongly condemn these actions and we again call for North Korea to stop further unlawful, destabilising acts," Harris told reporters at the start of the talks.

"On behalf of the United States I reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our Indo-Pacific alliances," she said.

"Together the countries represented here will continue to urge North Korea to commit to serious and sustained diplomacy."

Japan said the missile landed in its waters. The launch follows weeks of spiralling tensions with North Korea, which US intelligence believes is preparing a seventh nuclear test.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, taking part in the meeting, warned: "There is the possibility that North Korea will launch further missiles."

South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo called the launch by the North, officially called the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a "great provocation" that violated UN Security Council resolutions.

"We strongly condemn this brazen act and would like to emphasise that such illegal activities by the DPRK will never be tolerated and the international community must respond in a resolute manner," Han said.

US President Joe Biden met Sunday to discuss North Korea with both Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian summit in Cambodia.

They issued a joint warning of consequences if North Korea carries out a nuclear test. Pyongyang denounced the three-way meeting as evidence of US hostility.

On Friday, the three allies were joined by more countries in their joint campaign against the isolated state.

"These unprecedented multiple ballistic missile launches undermine our security. They are reckless actions," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

The leaders are "calling for North Korea to stop this reckless activity-this provocation-and to stand by and to comply with previous United Nations resolutions", Albanese said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he joined allies in "condemning in the strongest terms" the "continued irresponsible actions of North Korea".

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also took part in the talks.

Harris is participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting after Biden flew home for his granddaughter's wedding.

The Biden administration is hoping to raise pressure on North Korea but also believes that the ultimate key to coaxing Pyongyang will be its primary ally-China.