Korea's "New Missile" Has Unprecedented Range

"This is not that missile but it might be tested, demonstrating technologies and systems to be used in future ICBMs".

This image made from video of an undated still image broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT on Monday, May 15, 2017, shows leader Kim Jong Un at what was said to be a missile test site at an undisclosed location in North Korea.

It didn't pose a threat to neighboring countries thanks to its trajectory, but many military analysts are calling it a sizable leap in terms of North Korea's weapons technology.

Before Sunday's launch, an intermediate-range missile called Musudan was thought to have the longest potential range among the missiles that North Korea has test-fired - about 3,500 kilometers (2,180 miles).

Here's a closer look at what happened in Sunday's missile launch, which came only a few days after the inauguration of a new South Korean president, and why it's viewed as a worrying development by North Korea's neighbors and Washington.

"The test-firing of ICBMs will occur at any time and place, at the will of North Korea's highest leadership", North Korea's ambassador to China, Ji Jae Ryong, told reporters in Beijing on Monday, a day before the UN Security Council meets in NY to discuss the test. It again demanded that Pyongyang conduct no further nuclear or ballistic missile tests.

"The members of the Security Council agreed that the Security Council would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures including sanctions, in line with the Council's previously expressed determination", the statement read.

France's United Nations ambassador says Security Council members are working on a resolution that would impose new sanctions against North Korea and strengthen enforcement of existing sanctions.

North Korea has been developing a long-range missile capable of striking the mainland United States mounted with a nuclear warhead.

Two senior national security advisers to Trump will meet Moon's top foreign policy adviser, Chung Eui-yong, in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss a summit of the leaders and the North's missile test, a source with direct knowledge of the meeting said.

When it comes to North Korea's rapidly accelerating nuclear missile program, the USA would like other countries to step up to the plate more.

Kim witnessed the test and "hugged officials in the field of rocket research, saying that they worked hard to achieve a great thing", according to KCNA.

Tokyo clocked the missile as traveling about 800 kilometers (500 miles) and reaching a height of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) during its half-hour flight.

There's also a political victory for North Korea.

North Korea said it fired the missile at a high angle to avoid neighboring countries.

The South Korean, Japanese and US militaries say the missile flew for half an hour and reached an unusually high altitude before landing in the Sea of Japan.

In April, the North put dozens of missiles on show at a giant military parade through the streets of Pyongyang, including one that appeared to be the type of device launched on Sunday.

North Korea is not thought to be able yet to make a nuclear warhead small enough to mount on a long-range missile, though some outside analysts think it can arm shorter-range missiles with warheads. Each new nuclear and longer-range missile test is part of the North's attempt to build a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile.

The distance to Hawaii, headquarters for USA military operations in the Pacific, is 7,400 km. That could strike USA military bases in Guam.

"If the U.S. dares opt for a military provocation against the DPRK, we are ready to counter it", it said.

Moon, South Korea's first liberal leader in almost a decade, said as he took his oath of office last week that he'd be willing to visit North Korea if the circumstances were right.