North Korea is preparing to test a long-range missile it believes can reach the west coast of the US, it has been claimed.
Russian politician Anton Morozov made the claim following a visit to Pyongyang, in comments carried by Russia’s RIA news agency.
“They are preparing for new tests of a long-range missile,” RIA quoted Mr Morozov, a member of the Russian Duma’s international affairs committee, as saying.
“They even gave us mathematical calculations that they believe prove that their missile can hit the west coast of the United States.
“As far as we understand, they intend to launch one more long-range missile in the near future. And in general, their mood is rather belligerent.”
US President Donald Trump has said he is fully prepared to take the “military option” to deal with Pyongyang, which has carried out repeated nuclear and ballistic missile tests in the face of UN sanctions.
Earlier this year it was claimed North Korea had successfully developed a miniaturised nuclear warhead that can fit inside one of its intercontinental ballistic missiles, which would be a key step in its nuclear ambitions.
Mr Trump has been involved in an escalating war of words with Kim Jong Un since entering the White House in January, stoking fears the charged rhetoric could turn into a military conflict.
The President recently said negotiating with Pyongyang was a “waste of time”, and used his first address to the UN General Assembly in New York to pledge to “totally destroy” the reclusive state if it threatens the US.
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