The United States has concluded that North Korea has test launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), according to a Pentagon spokeswoman.

Yesterday, an announcement on North Korean state television claimed the missile was capable of hitting "anywhere in the world".

Let's have a look at how that claim stacks up.

What we know about the test

North Korea claims it fired a Hwasong-14 missile which reached an altitude of 2,802 kilometres and flew 933km in 39 minutes.

David Wright, co-director of the Global Security Program at the US-based Union of Concerned Scientists, said the missile was fired at a "very highly lofted trajectory".

If the missile had been fired at a standard trajectory, he said it could have a maximum range of 6,700km.

So does this latest test put the United States in range?

According to Mr Wright, yes.

It is not quite enough to reach New York or Washington, but he said Alaska would be within reach.

"That range would not be enough to reach the lower 48 states or the large islands of Hawaii, but would allow it to reach all of Alaska," he said.

If North Korea's claims are to be believed, US bases in the Pacific could also be within reach.

What about Australia?

A missile range of 6,700km could also put northern Australia within reach of a strike, as the map above shows.

But Andrew Davies, a senior military capability analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says it's "hard to say" how far a North Korean missile could actually go.

"Because of the rotation of the Earth, north-to-south trajectories aren't simply a matter of measuring the distance," he said.

"But a back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests that the NT would just be within range. Of course, future missiles could have longer ranges."

North Korea has previously pointed to America's deployment of marines to Darwin as evidence of preparation for war, saying Australia was "blindly and zealously toeing the United States line" and could be the target of a strike if this continues.

But Dr Davies rates the current threat that North Korea poses to Australia as "low".

"There's no sensible reason for North Korea to attack a US ally. The same goes for Japan and South Korea — I'm inclined to think that it's not as present a threat as many make out," he said.

Dr Davies says given the American nuclear security guarantee, North Korea would have to think twice about striking Australia.

"They would have to assume that the US wouldn't honour its undertaking," he said.

How has Australia responded?

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called the latest test a provocative act.

"North Korea continues to threaten its neighbours while undermining regional and global security," she said in a statement.

"North Korea's long-term interests would be best served by ceasing its nuclear and missiles programs and focusing on improving the lives of its long-suffering people."

What does this test mean for closer neighbours like Japan and South Korea?

They're already in plenty of danger.

North Korea already has vast artillery capabilities pointed at South Korea's capital, Seoul.

And experts say it's developed short and medium-range missiles capable of striking the south and west of Japan.

An ICBM isn't necessary for North Korea to cause serious harm in the region and force the international community to act.

North Korea conducts its "largest-ever" live-fire drill of self-propelled artillery guns demonstrating their fire power at an event on the east coast this year. ( Yonhap News Agency )

What happens now?

The ABC's North Asia correspondent Matthew Carney writes the first challenge is to verify North Korea's claim of a successful launch.

If North Korea really has developed an ICBM, he says it's a game-changer that will force President Donald Trump to act.

Reuters/ABC