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Leader Kim Jong-un’s aim of developing an Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) could be a long way off as Pyongyang would seem not to have yet fully mastered the technology necessary to operate a nuclear missile. The North Korean leader claimed after the latest test that the reclusive country could make a nuclear attack on America “in any place, any time” but now that has been thrown into some doubt. Michael Ellemen, a missile expert with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said videos taken by a weather camera in Japan's Hokkaido Prefecture showed the re-entry of the rocket shedding small radiant objects at an altitude of around 2.5-3 miles before dimming and then disappearing.

EPA Video footage appears to show North Korea's rocket breaking up before landing

Mr Ellemen said: "Had the RV survived the rigours of re-entry, it would have continued to glow. A reasonable conclusion based on the video evidence is that the… re-entry vehicle did not survive.” However he warned that further tests could still allow North Korea to deploy an operational ICBM as early as next year. North Korea said on Saturday its second ICBM test, which followed its first on July 4, had proven its ability to strike the whole of the US mainland.

Never-before seen pics: North Korea missile programme Wed, August 9, 2017 These images contained scenes from the early years of North Korea's missile programme under Kim Il Sung, the country's founder, until the most recent ICBM test on July 4 Play slideshow North Korea State Media 1 of 187

Some US-based experts said last week's launch showed the missile could have been capable of going as far into the United States as Denver and Chicago, with New York and Washington just out of range. However, John Schilling, another missile expert and 38 North contributor, said last week the improved performance over the July 4 test could have been the result of using a lighter payload to improve its range. Mr Elleman said the size of the payload was crucial to range and a lighter payload could mean a more fragile re-entry vehicle less able to withstand re-entry.

AFP North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) celebrates the launch of the latest missile

He estimated the current missile was probably capable of carrying a 500 kg bomb of similar power to those used at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War Two as far as the US West Coast. US President Donald Trump hit back at the reclusive state saying that the US “will handle North Korea”.

EPA North Korea launched its latest ICBM test missile on Friday