The United States has announced the successful test of an anti-missile system designed to ward off ballistic missile attacks from North Korea and others.

U.S. Missile Defense Agency chief Henry Obering told reporters that an interceptor missile was fired at a target missile launched from the ground and scored a direct hit.

Obering added that the test would go a long way to proving that the system does work, noting
doubts expressed even by Washington's European and NATO allies.

Washington is said to have poured more than 100 billion dollars into its missile defense program since 1983 to thwart possible attacks from so-called “rogue states” such as North Korea and Iran.

North Korea reacted swiftly to the news of the missile test's success. Its state-run radio Central Broadcasting Station reported on the test, claiming that the U.S. missile defense system was drawing much criticism from the international community.

[Photo : ]