The U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) has denied reports claiming North Korea is in possession of ballistic missiles that can reach the mainland United States.

Captain Jeffrey Breslau, the command’s spokesman, told Yonhap News Agency that what PACOM chief Timothy Keating said in the recent news conference meant that the North had the capability to build such a missile.

Breslau said that the commander’s statement was misunderstood and reiterated that Pyongyang did not possess the intercontinental ballistic missiles, but had the capability to build them.