North Korea fires most powerful long-range missile that can reach anywhere in the United States

North Korea has fired its most advanced long-range missile, South Korean authorities say, defying UN curbs.

The launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) drew immediate condemnation from the West. It landed west of Hokkaido in Japan.

It comes after South Korean and US defence officials met last week to update plans on how to respond to a nuclear attack from the North.

Pyongyang had vowed to take "more offensive countermeasures" in response.

 The ballistic missile that North Korea launched on Monday is an ICBM-class missile that has a range of more than 15,000 km (9,300 miles) and can reach anywhere in the United States, a Japanese government official said.