America cannot stop North Korea from building long-range missiles

THE definition of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is one that can fly at least 5,500km (3,420 miles). The weapon that North Korea tested, with characteristic belligerence, on the Fourth of July, had a range of perhaps 6,700km (see ). So its claim to have built an ICBM is technically correct.That is not quite as alarming as it sounds. It allows Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s dictator, to threaten Anchorage, Alaska, as well as America’s bases on Guam and in Japan and South Korea. But Los Angeles and New York are still out of reach. Moreover, North Korea has not yet mastered the technology to protect a nuclear warhead as a missile re-enters the atmosphere. And for the North to achieve much longer ranges it will have to add a third stage to its two-stage missiles—a further technological leap. Nonetheless, Mr Kim’s drive to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking America is clearly advancing rapidly. At best, America may have a few years before North Korea can rain destruction on its cities, as it so often threatens.