US detects North Korea missile launch

The US detected a ballistic missile launch from North Korea Friday morning. The Pentagon confirmed the news to CNN. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Japanese broadcaster NHK, "I have received the first report that North Korea again launched a missile and it possibly landed inside the exclusive economic zone." The US now believes that North Korea will be able to launch a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile by early 2018, which is two years earlier than previous estimates. A U.S. official told CNN that there are still many undetermined variables for North Korea's missiles such as the ability to hit a specific target.

By: CNN

The U.S. has detected a ballistic missile launch out of North Korea at approximately 10:45 am. EST on Friday, the Pentagon confirmed to CNN.

They are assessing the launch and will have more soon.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told Japanese broadcaster NHK: "I have received the first report that North Korea again launched a missile and it possibly landed inside the exclusive economic zone."

The U.S. believes that North Korea will be able to launch a reliable nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by early 2018, a US official familiar with the latest intelligence assessment confirmed to CNN Wednesday.

That would be an acceleration of two years from previous estimates that put Pyongyang three to five years from fully developing long-range missile capabilities.

The official clarified to CNN that while North Korea can currently get a missile "off the ground," there are still a lot of undetermined variables about guidance, re-entry and the ability to hit a specific target.

This story is breaking and will be updated.

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US detects North Korea missile launch

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