North Korea claims launch of intercontinental missile

North Korea has claimed it conducted a successful launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time.

If the claims are proven correct, it would be the first time Pyongyang has launched a missile capable of reaching the mainland of the US.

Reports from Japanese and US military have disputed the claims from North Korea, however, saying that the missile was an intermediate range weapon.

North Korea has ratcheted up its missile programme in recent months during the opening period of Donald Trump’s presidency, and the latest test arrives shortly before the meeting of the G20 leaders in Hamburg later this week.

A state news agency in North Korea said that the weapon had reached an altitude of 2,802km before hitting a target in the sea.

China’s ambassador to the United Nations had called for a de-escalation in tensions between North Korea and the West just hours before the missile was launched.

“If tension only goes up ... then sooner or later it will get out of control and the consequences would be disastrous,” Liu Jieyo said.

Escalating tensions caused by North Korea’s actions could provide a further strain on relations between the US and China, which has been a long-time ally of Kim Jong-un’s regime.

“Today’s launch of a ballistic missile from North Korea further added to the complication of China-U.S. relations, but it seems markets did not take this as a serious threat,” said FXTM chief market strategist Hussein Sayed.