Missile defense

US successfully tests Thaad anti-missile system in Pacific

The US military has said its controversial Thaad missile defence system successfully shot down a target during a test over the Pacific Ocean.

Thaad, or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, halted a simulated, ballistic intermediate-range missile like the ones being developed by North Korea.

The test was planned months ago, but comes amid rising tension with North Korea over its weapons programme.

Pyongyang claimed it has tested a series of missiles in recent weeks.

On 4 July, Pyongyang said it had carried out its first successful test of an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM). It said the Hwasong-14 could hit "any part of the world", but the US military described it as an intermediate-range missile.