North Korea in chilling threat to the world as it tests missile with 3,000km range

Kim Jong-un has conducted multiple missile tests in recent weeks, following a successful thermonuclear bomb test in January condemned around the world.

It has also issued multiple threats to its Western enemies, with the DPRK pledging a terrorist attack on America "worse than 9/11”.

Yet North Korea stands on the brink of collapse – a grim reality which experts think makes a nuclear attack even likelier.

Its unclear whether the communist country has missiles capable of reaching the mainland US yet, so each test represents a new threat.

South Korean military officials said the latest test at 6.40am local time (9.40pm yesterday in the UK) appeared to be a Musadan missile.

The weapon has an estimated range of more than 1,800 miles, bringing China, Russia, Japan and its South Korean enemies in reach.

And though the missile failed moments after its launch, its the second missile test in recent weeks for the hermit kingdom.

Yang Uk of the Korea Defence and Security Forum, an advisor to the South Korean navy, said Kim wanted results before his party’s congress next Friday.

He said: "They are in a rush to show anything that is successful, to meet the schedule of a political event, the party congress.

"They need to succeed but they keep failing. They didn't have enough time to fix or technically modify the system, but just shot them because they were in hurry.

In a release today, South Korea’s foreign ministry branded the launch a "provocative act” and a "threat to the peace and security” of the region and beyond.

"We once again strongly urge the North to realise its efforts to advance its nuclear and missile programs will hasten its self-destruction," it said.

North Korea lists the US, South Korea and Japan as its main enemies – and America has pledged to retaliate if any of them are attacked.

South Korea also says the North is ready to conduct a nuclear test at any time. It would be its fifth nuclear test.

(dailystar.co.uk)