North Korea launch missile that could possibly wipe the whole of America as confirmed by expert

North Korea's latest missile could likely fly 8,100 miles on a normal trajectory — enough to hit the entire continental US.

Kim Jong Un Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Hwasong 14 North Korea  (KCNA/via REUTERS)

• North Korea launched an ICBM that experts estimate can hit every single US state.
• The launch was likely the most advanced by North Korea yet.
• It took place at night during what's typically the off season, suggesting North Korea is getting more sneaky.

North Korea tested a missile on Tuesdaythat experts say could reach any part of the continental US.

The missile flew about 1,000 km and landed in the sea east of Japan, but crested at an incredible 4,500 km above Earth's surface, making it the highest and longest lasting flight North Korea has ever achieved.

North Korea previously tested intercontinental-ranged ballistic missiles, but those did not display ranges sufficient to hit important targets on the US's east coast.

David Wright, a physicist and the co-director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' global security program, wrote in a recent blog post that North Korea's latest missile could likely fly 8,100 miles on a normal trajectory — enough to hit the entire continental US.

But while the test demonstrated range, it's still unknown how credible the launch was. An effective ICBM has to carry a payload of around 1,000 pounds, and it's unclear if this launch had a reduced load.

Shaded area shows range of North Korea's latest missile if fired from within the country.  (Business Insider)

Additionally, some early reports indicate that the reentry vehicle, the component that returns the payload to the Earth's surface, broke up in the pressure of reentry.

The launch took place in the fall and at the dead of night, suggesting North Korea has improved its ability to fire missiles in an unpredictable, operational way. North Korea has typically tested missiles in spring or summer, and during the day.

In the hours before the launch, Japanese and South Korean sources reported North Korea sending a radio signal that it had sent in anticipation of past launches. These sources assessed that the launch would happen "within days."

Tuesday's launch marks the first in 10 weeks and could be an opening statement before the US and South Korea perform air combat military drills in mid December.