SEOUL – North Korea has criticized the imminent test of a U.S. long-range "Minuteman III" Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), arguing it is "inconsistent" to claim the launch of a long-range nuclear-capable missile is designed to combat North Korean provocations.

The LGM-30 Minuteman has a range of over 8000 miles, putting the entire Korean peninsula well within its potential range. The U.S. rescheduled the launch to today after the original mid-April launch date could have been "misconstrued by North Korea," a Vandenberg Airforce Base launch update said.