North Korean nuclear missiles could hit America within the next 2 years

North Korea could have fully operational ballistic missile submarine within two years, it has been revealed.

Pyongyang’s test-firing of a missile, over seen by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un at the weekend is “very serious and concerning”, South Korea said.

Officials last week boasted North Korea had the missile reach to strike mainland US if America ‘forced its hand’.

South Korean defence ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said: “We urge North Korea to immediately stop developing submarine-launched ballistic missiles which hinder the stability of the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia.”

But he said the North still needed time to develop additional equipment in order to make its submarine-launched missile system fully operational.

However, a South Korean defence official said North Korea could develop a fully operational submarine with ballistic missiles within two or three years.

The official said photographs from North Korea showing a rocket launched from the sea appeared to be authentic.

China, North Korea’s only major ally, described the situation on the Korean peninsula as “very complex and sensitive.”

“We hope that all relevant parties can do more to ameliorate the tense situation, and jointly maintain peace and stability,” ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

North Korea’s state media often boasts of successful military and space accomplishments, including the launch of a functional communications satellite, which are not independently verified by outside experts.

It is believed to have launched a long-range rocket and put an object into orbit in December 2012, defying scepticism and international warnings not to pursue such a programme, which could be used to develop intercontinental missiles.

North Korea, already heavily sanctioned by the United Nations for its missile and nuclear tests, is technically still at war with the South after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.