N Korea claims successful ballistic missile test ahead of G20 summit

North Korea said it successfully tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday, under the supervision of leader Kim Jong Un, and it was capable of hitting anywhere in the world. The Hwasong-14 missile reached an altitude of 2,802km and hit its target precisely after flying for 39 minutes, the North's state television said The missile test comes ahead of a summit of leaders from the Group of 20 countries in Germany later this week. The missile flew for about 40 minutes and may have landed in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the Japanese government said, adding that it had strongly protested what was a clear violation of UN resolutions. The missile was launched around 0040 GMT (8:40pm ET) from an airfield in Panghyon, about 100km northwest of the North's capital, Pyongyang, the South Korean military said.

....and Japan will put up with this much longer. Perhaps China will put a heavy move on North Korea and end this nonsense once and for all!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 4, 2017

The North's missile launch is the last since Pyongyang fired several cruise missiles in early June and comes ahead of the leaders of the United States, China, Japan and South Korea are expected to discuss efforts to rein in the North's nuclear and missile tests the G20 summit on July 7 to 8. Pyongyang has been working to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the United States. Earlier this week, North Korea was a key topic in phone calls between US President Donald Trump and the leaders of China and Japan. Leaders of both Asian countries reaffirmed their commitment to a denuclearised Korean Peninsula.

The regime in Tehran is the fundamental problem in the Middle East. Their behavior is only getting worse, including work w/ #NorthKorea. — John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) July 3, 2017

Tuesday's missile launch also comes ahead of July 4 Independence Day celebrations in the United States. North Korea has previously fired missiles around this US holiday. South Korea's presidential Blue House said President Moon Jae-in called a national security council meeting for 0230 GMT after being informed of the North's missile launch. Last week after his first summit with Moon, Trump called for a determined response to North Korea, stressing the importance of the alliance between the two countries.