The Pentagon on Monday strongly condemned North Korea's latest missile test, adding that the United States' commitment to protect the homeland and allies such as Japan and South Korea was "ironclad." Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told reporters that North Korea's "unlawful weapons programs" were a clear and grave threat to national security, according to Reuters. "We are capable of defending against a North Korean ballistic missile attack and will take all necessary measures to deter and defeat threats to our and our allies' territories and citizens," Davis added. North Korea said it had successfully test-fired a new type of medium- to long-range ballistic missile on Sunday, claiming advances in a weapons program it is pursuing in violation of U.N. resolutions. The missile was propelled by a solid-fuel engine and was an upgraded, extended-range version of its submarine-launched ballistic missile that was tested successfully last August, according to North Korea's government-run KCNA news agency. Davis said it appeared that the missile was an intermediate-range ballistic missile, the land-based variant of what North Korea has launched from submarines in the past. He added that it appeared to be propelled by solid fuel and fired from a mobile launcher. "This is one of the concerns we've had, as they have developed their capability in the missiles themselves, they have also given them a road mobile capability. Road mobile allows it to hide, to evade detection and to be able to launch with little notice," Davis said. On Monday, President Donald Trump said he would deal with North Korea "very strongly," but did not give any details.
