US, South Korea discuss ‘military’ response to North Korea: Pentagon

The intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 is seen in this undated photo released by North Korea. (Photo by AFP)

The United States and South Korea have discussed “military” options in response to North Korea’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Pentagon says.

Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis confirmed Friday that North Korea had launched an ICBM which flew for approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and crashed into Japan's maritime exclusive economic zone.

"We assess that this was an ICBM; this is a launch that had been expected," Davis said.

Following the test, General Joe Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral Harry Harris, who heads the US military's Pacific Command, held a phone conversation with South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, General Lee Sun Jin.

"During the call, Dunford and Harris expressed the ironclad commitment to the US-Republic of Korea alliance," Dunford's office said in a statement.

"The three leaders also discussed military response options."

People walk past a television screen showing a picture of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (L) celebrating his country’s test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), at a railway station in Seoul on July 4, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement, saying that the missile’s "characteristics were those of a medium-range ballistic missile."

According to the statement, the missile reached an altitude of 681 kilometers (420 miles) and flew for 732 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan, the statement said.

The missile launch was lamented by the European Union, which said the country posed "a serious threat to international peace and security."

Also, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe criticized Pyongyang for launching another missile and called a meeting of the National Security Council.

This handout photo taken on July 5, 2017 and provided by US Forces Korea (USFK) in Seoul shows US M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (R) firing an MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile into the East Sea from an undisclosed location in South Korea. (Photo by AFP)

North Korea is under mounting international pressure over its missile and nuclear development programs, but it says it needs to continue and develop its missile force as a deterrent to defend the nation in the face of the US and its regional allies' hegemony.

On the 4th of July, the US Independence Day, Pyongyang test-fired an ICBM capable of delivering a "large, heavy nuclear warhead" to the US continent.

The test was conducted just hours after US President Donald Trump and Abe agreed to exert further pressure on Pyongyang over its weapons programs.