US general says military has 'rapid, lethal and overwhelming force' ready for use against North Korea

North Korea launched their latest intercontinental ballistic missile on Friday, their second launch within the space of a month.

TheBBCreport that the missile was in striking distance of the entire United States.

NPRadd that the weapon travelled 620 miles for 45 minutes before landing in the sea off the west coast of Japan.

It also managed to travel 1700 miles into space, seven times higher than the International Space Station, according to a report from Fox News.

Just days before this incident, arms control expert, Jeffrey Lewis told the This American Life podcast that North Korea now possessed the technology to target the United States.

This is the twelfth missile that North Korea has tested this year alone and further heightens the tensions between them and America, as well as their relationship with China.

On Saturday President Donald Trump tweeted about his disappointed with China and their lack of intervention.

China later condemned the launches, asking for restraint by all parties.

Following this latest incident, two US B-1 bombers took part in exercises in the Korean Peninsula, along with Korean and Japanese jets.

This was done in order to show America's commitment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific theatre and showcase their ability to respond swiftly to a threat in the region.

Gen. Terrence J O'Shaughnessy, a commander in the US Pacific Air Force has now vowed to execute a strong demonstration of force in location should the situation require it.

In a statement he said:

North Korea remains the most urgent threat to regional stability.

Diplomacy remains the lead.

However, we have a responsibility to our allies and our nation to showcase our unwavering commitment while planning for the worst-case scenario.

If called upon we are ready to respond with rapid, lethal and overwhelming force at a time and place of our choosing.

Despite recent events the BBC claim that some experts doubt that North Korea have the capabilities to make a nuclear warhead small enough to fit to a long range missile.

In contrast, others believe that Pyongyang could solve these problems in a 10 year period and build a weapon that could successfully strike the United States.

HT BBC Fox News NPR

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