North Korea says its most recent missile test shows the entire U.S. is within its reach.
It's somewhat of a bold claim. Previous analysis shows North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missiles might have the range to reach Alaska, but not the entire U.S.
Of course, getting a missile off the ground is only the first step. The country also claimed its most recent missile test showed re-entry capabilities, meaning it could bring the missile down on a precise target. According to a top U.S. official, experts don't believe North Korea has that technology — at least, not yet.
But the country's missile program has been progressing quickly. Previous estimates ruled a fully deployable, nuclear-capable ICBM would take the regime at least three years to develop, if not longer.
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But new reports show that U.S. intelligence now believes the country could have one as early as next year.
While the country may be close to developing a reliable nuclear-capable ICBM, it's unclear if it has a nuclear weapon small enough to launch.
Kim Jong-un's regime claims its nuclear program has developed and tested miniaturized nuclear warheads. But we haven't seen a warhead attached to an ICBM, which would add weight and affect the missile's trajectory.
