North Korea claims successful intercontinental ballistic missile launch

North Korea has claimed it successfully test launched an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time and said it now has the capability to target anywhere in the world.

In a state television announcement the country announced that the test had been ordered by leader Kim Jong Un.

According to Reuters, the missile was launched for 39 minutes, reached an altitude of 1,731 miles and flew 579 miles.

It is the first time the country has claimed to have successfully launched an ICBM with the potential to reach the United States.

But earlier, the South Korean military and Japanese government reported that the missile was intermediate-range.

Tokyo said it landed in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone and strongly protested what it called a clear violation of UN resolutions.

President Trump has reacted angrily to the test launch and called for China to intervene to "end this nonsense".

Mr Trump tweeted: "North Korea has just launched another missile. Does this guy have anything better to do with his life?

"Hard to believe that South Korea and Japan will put up with this much longer.

"Perhaps China will put a heavy move on North Korea and end this nonsense once and for all!"