A file picture showing North Korea's missile launch on March 6.[EPA/Yonhap News ]
North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a missile that appeared to have failed or exploded shortly after take-off, military authorities said amid growing concern about ballistic missile technologies upgraded by the nuclear-armed country.
The missile was launched near an air base in North Korea's eastern port city of Wonsan, the ministry said in a brief statement. The US Pacific Command said it detected the North's "failed" attempt to fire a missile. "A missile appears to have exploded within seconds of launch," it said.
Pyongyang fired four missiles on March 6 and three of them fell into waters near Japan. Pyongyang warned the earlier missile launch was aimed at wiping out US troops based in Japan with nuclear weapons.
Cross-border tensions run high as North Korea threatened military actions against a major military exercise launched by US and South Korean troops. Washington and Seoul insist their drills are purely defensive in nature, but Pyongyang condemns them as provocative rehearsals for an attack.
Three of the four missiles launched by Pyongyang on March 6 fell into waters near Japan. Pyongyang warned the earlier missile launch was aimed at wiping out US troops based in Japan with nuclear weapons.
In February, North Korea claimed to have successfully launched a new strategic intermediate-range ballistic missile with an improved solid fuel engine capable of carrying a nuclear warhead more accurately from any place. A
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to launch more rockets capable of carrying nuclear warheads, claiming Pyongyang has acquired re-entry technology, despite doubts about its ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead to be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile.
This year, North Korea has threatened to launch an ICBM at a time and place determined by Kim who said in his New Year's address that Pyongyang had reached the final stage of ICBM development. US President Donald Trump vowed to stop Pyongyang from mastering ICBM capabilities. Last week Pyongyang tested a new rocket engine.
Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
