Trump Promises 'Major Sanctions' in Response to North Korea ICBM Test

U.S. President Donald Trump says "major sanctions" will be imposed on North Korea, after Pyongyang tested an intercontinental ballistic missile that experts say is likely capable of hitting anywhere in the U.S. mainland.

In a tweet Wednesday, Trump said he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the "provocative actions" of North Korea. He again vowed that the "situation will be handled," but did not elaborate.

"President Trump underscored the determination of the United States to defend ourselves and our allies from the growing threat posed by the North Korean regime," the White House said in a statement on the call with Xi.

WATCH: President reacts to Pyongyang's missile launch

The readout also said Trump "emphasized the need for China to use all available levers to convince North Korea to end its provocations and return to the path of denuclearization."

North Korea on Wednesday said it tested a Hwasong-15 missile "tipped with a super-large heavy warhead which is capable of striking the whole mainland of the U.S."

U.S. officials and independent experts said the test represents a key accomplishment for Pyongyang's missile program, and shows it can send rockets higher and further than ever before.

"It went higher, frankly, than any previous shot they have taken," said U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday. "It's a research and development effort on their part to continue building ballistic missiles that can threaten everywhere in the world, basically."

The United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss the incident. The body has imposed repeated rounds of sanctions on the North in response to its nuclear and missile tests.

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