Lawmakers in Alaska and Hawaii are doubling down on calls for improved U.S. defenses after North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile that experts say could hit Alaska. Tuesday’s ICBM launch was North Korea’s most successful yet, spurring an emergency U.N. Security Council session on Wednesday where U.S. VOWS IT WILL 'NEVER ACCEPT A NUCLEAR NORTH KOREA' AFTER NEW MISSILE TESTAs officials debated in New York over what the international response should be, the states closest to Pyongyang's weapons appealed for action in Washington. “This bill will help improve our ability to defend Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. mainland against a North Korean ballistic missile threat,” Schatz said when the bill was introduced. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, told Fox News on Wednesday that the U.S. must pursue “serious diplomatic efforts” to denuclearize North Korea.

Source: Fox News July 05, 2017 21:54 UTC