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Kim Jong Un celebrates missile launch with stroll on sacred mountain

North Korea's leader walks through snow as he pays a special visit to Kim Jong-Il's apparent birthplace after the missile launch.

Saturday 9 December 2017 15:19, UK

The leader made a visit after the launch of the ICBM
Image: The leader on the peak of the sacred Mount Paektu
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The leader of North Korea has celebrated the country's recent missile launch by visiting a sacred mountain where his father was said to be born.

Kim Jong Un took a snowy walk around Mount Paektu, an inactive volcano that is the country's highest peak, after the secretive nation launched a missile that put the entire US mainland in reach of its weapons.

Photographs released by the state-run television channel, KRT, show him at the snow-covered summit of what the media called the "sublime mountain of revolution".

The leader wrapped up in the snowy conditions on Mount Paektu
Image: The leader wrapped up in the snowy conditions on Mount Paektu

The state -run agency KCNA said Kim used the opportunity to dwell on the "emotion-charged days when he realised the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force without yielding even a moment".

He was also shown visiting facilities in Samjiyon County, a town near Mouth Paektu, as part of his visit.

The ICBM was launched at the end of November
Image: The ballistic missile was launched at the end of November
He went up to the mountain with his aides after conducting the 'great event'
Image: He went up to the mountain with his aides after conducting the 'great event'

The intercontinental ballistic missile launch took place on 29 November.

KCNA said the missile testing means the mainland of America is within its reach.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un visiting Samjiyon County in Ryanggang Province
Image: Walking in Samjiyon County in Ryanggang Province
Kim Jong Il was said to have been born on Mount Paektu
Image: Kim Jong Il was said to have been born on Mount Paektu

The Japanese government said the missile was in the air for 50 minutes.

It was launched on a steep trajectory, but, flattened out, it has a range of 13,000km (8,100m).

President Donald Trump said "we will take care of it" when questioned about the missile launch.

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North Korea successfully launches an ICBM, reaching close to the US coast

Mount Paektu is considered sacred because Kim Jong Il, their former leader who died in 2011, was said to have been born there.

His name is inscribed in the side of the mountain.

And the leader's grandfather, Kim Il Sung, is said to have led the fight for his country's independence from Japan from a log cabin at the foot of the mountain.

Crowds welcomed the scientists who worked on the missile on Friday
Image: Crowds welcomed the scientists who worked on the missile on Friday

On Friday, scientists and technicians involved in the missile test arrived in Pyongyang to cheering crowds who lined the streets.

US experts have said it does seem as though North Korea is just two or three tests away from being combat-ready.

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