US Secretary of State John Kerry has delivered a stark warning to North Korea not to test-fire a mid-range missile, while tamping down anxiety caused by a new intelligence report suggesting significant progress in the communist regime's nuclear weapons programme.

Kicking off four days of talks in an east Asia beset by increasing North Korean threats, Mr Kerry told reporters in Seoul that Pyongyang and its enigmatic young leader would only increase their isolation if they launched the missile that American officials believe has a range of about 2,500 miles - enough to reach the US territory of Guam.

"If Kim Jong Un decides to launch a missile, whether it's across the Sea of Japan or some other direction, he will be choosing wilfully to ignore the entire international community," Mr Kerry said. "And it will be a provocation and unwanted act that will raise people's temperatures."

If the trajectory of the test missile suggests that it could be a threat to either the US or allies, the military would move to shoot it down from one of nine warships armed with sophisticated ballistic missile defence systems in the Pacific, including two that were moved closer to the Korean peninsula, US officials said.

Mr Kerry said the test would be a "huge mistake" for Kim. "It will further isolate his country and further isolate his people who are desperate for food and not missile launches," he warned. "They are desperate for opportunity and not for a leader to flex his muscles."

Mr Kerry's diplomatic tour, while planned long in advance, is unusual in that it brings him directly to a region of escalated tensions and precisely at a time when North Korea is threatening action.

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http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/3915...on-missile-test

"If Kim Jong Un decides to launch a missile, whether it's across the Sea of Japan or some other direction, he will be choosing willfully to ignore the entire international community," Kerry told reporters.

Our man of courage from the 60's is taking on Kim's bluster. I like his tact, don't isolate yourself and your people like this. Ooooh scary. He's obviously got Kim's "number".

Quote: ThirstyMan wrote in post #2

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"If Kim Jong Un decides to launch a missile, whether it's across the Sea of Japan or some other direction, he will be choosing willfully to ignore the entire international community," Kerry told reporters.

Our man of courage from the 60's is taking on Kim's bluster. I like his tact, don't isolate yourself and your people like this. Ooooh scary. He's obviously got Kim's "number".

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Tell him we are sending a bunch of our famous for doing nothin trash over there , that will scare the hell out of him.

John F'in Kerry should really put fear in Lil'Lil"Kim.