23 Jun 2016

North Korea says it has capability to hit US Pacific

3:59 pm on 23 June 2016

North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, says his country's latest missile tests have given the country the capability to attack United States interests in the Pacific, including Guam.

People walk past a television screen reporting news of North Korea's latest Musudan missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on June 23, 2016.

People walk past a television screen reporting news of North Korea's latest Musudan missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on June 23, 2016. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has hailed the successful test of a powerful new medium-range missile, saying it poses a direct threat to US military bases in the Pacific, state media reported on June 23. Photo: JUNG YEON-JE / AFP

Mr Kim called a series of tests on Wednesday a "great event" that strengthened his country's nuclear capability.

The United States and South Korea say the first test failed, but the second showed some capability, reaching an altitude of 1,000 kilometres.

The Musudan missile has an estimated range of 3,000 kilometres, far enough to hit the Pacific US territory of Guam.

North Korean state media reported Mr Kim saying his country now has the sure capability to attack the Americans in the Pacific.

However, many experts don't believe the country has the ability to build nuclear warheads small enough to put on its missiles, though it is striving to do so.