NORTH KOREA tested what it called an intercontinental ballistic missile yesterday and claimed it was capable of hitting the United States.

China and Russia responded by calling for a return to international talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme.

The North’s government said the new Hwasong-14 missile had flown 580 miles into the Sea of Japan, reaching a maximum altitude of 1,740 miles and hitting its target 39 minutes after launch.