OMAHA (Sputnik) — The United States will look at development of the North Korean nuclear threat and the hypersonic threats that are allegedly coming of China and Russia, the general added.
"The nuclear posture review is underway, there is also a ballistic missile defense review that is underway," Hyten said. "All of the strategic elements and all of the strategic challenges of the world today are being incorporated into each of those studies. So, we look at the development of North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile threat."
"We look at those reviews both being complete towards the end of the year," he said.
Hyten delivered his remarks at the seventh annual US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) Deterrence Symposium in Omaha, Nebraska which is being held on July 26-27.
On July 4, North Korea announced it had successfully launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile, saying it traveled 580 miles and reached an altitude of 1,740 miles during its 39-minute flight before accurately hitting a targeted area in the Sea of Japan. The test immediately prompted sharp criticism from the international community.
Following the launch, the Russian Defense Ministry disputed Pyongyang's claim, saying the missile's flight parameters indicated it reached an altitude of 535 kilometers (332 miles) and traveled 510 kilometers before falling in central Sea of Japan. However, US officials believe that Pyongyang had successfully launched an ICBM for the first time.
