N.Korea missiles 'target US mainland'

After a failed missile launch was detected in North Korea, its state media has repeated Pyongyang's goal of building a nuclear missile that can hit the US.

North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its ballistic missile and nuclear programs. (AAP) Source: AP

North Korea's state media has reiterated the country's goal of developing a nuclear missile capable of reaching the continental US on the same day rivals Washington and Seoul detected a failed missile launch from an area near Pyongyang.

The Rodong Sinmun newspaper also said on Saturday the North revealed two types of new intercontinental ballistic missiles in an April 15 military parade honouring its late state founder, Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un.

"The large territory that is the United States has been entirely exposed to our pre-emptive nuclear strike means," it said.

Referring to the US sending the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to Korean waters, the newspaper said "rendering aircraft carriers useless is not even a problem" for its military.

It said the North displayed three types of ICBMs during the parade, including two new types that were inside the canisters.

Analysts say the North's existing liquid-fuel ICBMS, including the KN-08 and KN-14, are potentially capable of reaching the US mainland, although the North has never flight-tested them.