Missile explodes on launch
Test comes on day U.S. vice-president is to arrive in Seoul for talks
SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of — A North Korean missile exploded during launch early today, U.S. and South Korean officials said, a high-profile failure that comes as a powerful U.S. aircraft supercarrier approaches the Korean Peninsula in a show of force.
It wasn’t immediately clear what kind of missile was test-fired from the east coast city of Sinpo. But the failure will sting in Pyongyang because it comes a day after one of the biggest North Korean propaganda events of the year— celebrations of the 105th birthday of late North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, the current leader’s grandfather.
The North’s test firing can be seen as a message of defiance to the Trump administration, coming as it does on the day U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence is set to arrive in Seoul for talks on North Korea.
President Donald Trump was uncharacteristically quiet about the failed launch. In a statement, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Trump and his military team “are aware of North Korea’s most recent unsuccessful missile launch. The president has no further comment.”
Washington and Seoul will try to figure out what exactly North Korea fired, because while North Korea regularly launches shortrange missiles, it is also developing mid-range and long-range missiles.
The ultimate goal is to have a full array of nuclear-tipped missiles in response to what Pyongyang says is hostility by Washington and Seoul meant to topple its government.
The U.S. Pacific Command said in a statement that the latest missile exploded on launch. South Korea’s Defence Ministry said it was analyzing exactly how the North Korean launch failed. Neither military knew what kind of missile was fired.
Analysts warn that even failed missile launches provide valuable knowledge to North Korea as it tries to build its weapons program. The country launched a long-range rocket and conducted two nuclear tests last year, including its most powerful to date.