North Korea claims new missile can reach all of the USA

North Korea says it has successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of "striking the whole US mainland".

Pyongyang claimed the missile, known as Hwasong-15, is nuclear-capable and the most powerful weapon it has ever tested.

In a broadcast on state television, the isolated state said the new ICBM was "significantly more" powerful than the previous two long-range weapons it tested, and is capable of carrying a "super-large heavy warhead".

US Defence Secretary James Mattis described the test as a step toward missiles that can "threaten everywhere in the world", while President Donald Trump said "we will take care of it" when questioned about the launch.

The missile flew 590 miles (950km) to an altitude of 2,781 miles (4,475km) for 53 minutes - more than 10 times the height of the International Space Station.

North Korea said its nuclear weapons pose no threat to any country as long as its own interests are not infringed upon.

In an address by veteran newsreader Ri Chun Hee, Pyongyang added the missile was developed to "defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country from the US imperialists' nuclear blackmail policy and nuclear threat".

The launch was detected early on Wednesday morning local time from a site near the North Korean capital, hours after Mr Kim was pictured touring a catfish factory.

A US government source confirmed the launch and the Pentagon said there was no threat to the US or its allies.

South Korea immediately reacted to the test by launching three missiles in a show of force.

The UN Security Council is meeting later to discuss the missile test following requests from the US and Japan.