Kim Jong Un Says N Korea Achieved 'Historic Success' in Nuclear Armament

TOKYO (Sputnik) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the Tuesday night test of a ballistic missile.

"Personally watching the successful test of the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile, comrade Kim Jong Un expressed high appreciation for the test, saying that today a historic success was achieved in the completion of the state's nuclear armament," North Korean state television relayed.

The North Korean Embassy in Moscow stated that North Korea's Hwasong-15 ballistic missile is "equipped with a system of weapons capable of loading an extremely large heavy nuclear warhead and striking the entire mainland part of the United States."

READ MORE: Non-Nuclear Winter: Why Has North Korea Not Tested a Missile Since September?

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters that the missile flew about 1,000 kilometers (some 621 miles), causing no damage while falling into the Sea of Japan. According to Onodera, Japan believes the missile could have reached an altitude of over 4,000 kilometers.

​The situation on the Korean Peninsula has been escalating since the beginning of the year due to Pyongyang's missile and nuclear tests, all conducted in violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.