North Korea Tested Intercontinental Ballistic Missile [Capable of Reaching Alaska], U.S. Officials Believe

North Korea fired its first intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday, military officials said, a significant step forward in Pyongyang’s weapons program and an escalation of a perilous nuclear standoff with the United States.

The United States condemned the test-launch, firing warning missiles and vowing to hold the regime accountable at the United Nations.

The ICBM, which is believed to be “two-stage,” officials said, would have a range of at least 3,500 miles and thus be able to reach Alaska.

The North Korean regime earlier Tuesday claimed that it successfully fired a long-range missile into the Sea of Japan, declaring itself a “proud nuclear state.”

“It is a major celebration in our history,” said an announcer on North Korean state television. North Korea “is now a proud nuclear state, which possesses [an] almighty ICBM rocket that can now target anywhere in the world.” (Read more from “North Korea Tested Intercontinental Ballistic Missile [Capable of Reaching Alaska], U.S. Officials Believe” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.