New York(July 5, 2017): The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting after North Korea said it had successfully tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile, diplomats said.
The United States confirmed it was an ICBM launch — backed by Japan and South Korea, requested the urgent meeting that is scheduled.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un oversaw the launch of the Hwasong-14 missile which experts say is capable of reaching Alaska. North Korea’s Academy of Defence Science said it reached an altitude of 2,802 kilometers (1,741 miles) and flew 933 kilometers.
“The Security Council session will be held tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m. EDT,” the statement reads.
On Tuesday, North Korea’s television announced the first successful launch of the Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile reached an altitude of 2,802 kilometers and flew 933 kilometers within 29 minutes.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the North Korean missile could be a medium-range one, because it rose to the altitude of 535 km, way below the declared 2,802 kilometers, and covered the distance of about 510 kilometers.