US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Sunday that North Korea's nuclear weapons capabilities and ballistic missile defense capabilities pose a serious threat to the United States.

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During an appearance on a TV interview show, Carter said that the United States is prepared to shoot down a North Korean launch or test "if it were coming towards our territory or the territory of our friends."

On Sunday, the North Korean government declared that it has the capabilities to test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile at any time and from any location if decided by its leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea added that a hostile United States policy is to blame for its arms development.

On Jan. 1 this year, Kim announced that the nuclear-capable country was close to test-launching an Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

"The ICBM will be launched anytime and anywhere determined by the supreme headquarters of the Democratic Republic of Korea," an unnamed Foreign Ministry was quoted saying by the country's media.

On Jan. 5, the United States said that North Korea had demonstrated a 'qualitative' improvement in its nuclear and missile capabilities. This forecast was facilitated by North Korea's unprecedented level of missile tests last year.

North Korea has been testing rocket engines and heat shields for an ICBM. According to experts, Pyongyang has also been developing technology that can be used to guide a missile after re-entry into the atmosphere.

Once fully engineered, a North Korean ICBM could threaten the continental United States. ICBMs have a minimum range of about 5,000 km (3,400 miles). Some are capable of traveling up to 10,000 km (6,200 miles) or further. Continental United States is around 9,000km (5,500 miles) from North Korea.

The UN has placed sanctions on North Korea since 2006 over its nuclear weapons ambitions. The sanctions were tightened last month after the country carried out its fifth and largest nuclear test on Sept. 9.

Last week, a US State Department spokesperson said that they do not believe that North Korea has the capabilities to mount a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile.

TagsNorth Korea, US, Asia