US warns North Korea could be planning ICBM test 'in near future' in test for Biden

Comments come as US secretary of state and defence secretary begin visit to Japan and South Korea to discuss security

North Korea could be planning to flight test an upgraded inter-continental ballistic missile [ICBM] in the near future," a senior US military official has warned, in what would be the regime's first serious policy challenge for Joe Biden.

The warning, by Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck, who as head of the Northern Command is in charge of defending the continental US, appeared to be based on North Korea's unveiling at a parade in October of what would be its largest ICBM yet, and not on specific intelligence about an imminent launch.