North Korea has fired its second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), stoking fears of the country’s potential nuclear capabilities.
The missile was launched nearly vertically, travelled 1000 kilometres and reached an altitude of about 3000 kilometres before splashing down off the coast of Japan, according to the Japanese national broadcaster NHK. Other reports suggest that altitude may have been even higher.
“The US Department of Defence detected and tracked a single North Korea missile launch today,” said spokesperson captain Jeff Davis. “We assess that this missile was an intercontinental ballistic missile, as had been expected.”
Last month’s missile flew 933 kilometres, reaching an altitude of 2802 kilometres. At the time, David Wright, a US missile scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists in Cambridge, Massachusetts, estimated that the missile could have a maximum range of around 6700 kilometres if fired at a standard trajectory.
Wright estimates that the missile launched today could travel 10,400 kilometres or more, putting the west coast of the US easily in range. Taking into account Earth’s rotation, it might even be able to reach New York City.
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