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North Korea missile test fails, U.S. and South say, as tensions simmer

23 March 2017 03:45 (UTC +04:00)

A North Korean missile appeared to have exploded just after it was launched on Wednesday, the U.S. and South Korean militaries said after detecting the latest in a series of weapons tests by the nuclear-armed state that have alarmed the region, APA reports quoting Rueters.

The launch attempt was made near the city of Wonsan, on North Korea's east coast, the same place it launched several intermediate-range missiles last year, all but one of which failed.

"U.S. Pacific Command detected what we assess was a failed North Korean missile launch attempt ... in the vicinity of Kalma," Commander Dave Benham, a spokesman for U.S. Pacific Command, said in a statement, referring to an air field in Wonsan.

"A missile appears to have exploded within seconds of launch," Benham said, adding that a more detailed assessment was underway.

A South Korean military official also said the missile appeared to have exploded just after it was launched.

It was not clear what type of missile it was. The South Korean defense ministry said it was conducting analysis to determine further details.