N. Korea missile launch fails

Seoul: North Korea on Thursday conducted what appeared to be a failed test — its second in a week — of a powerful medium-range missile that experts warn could be deployed as early as next year. South Korean and US military monitors said the missile — believed to be an intermediate-range Musudan — exploded shortly after take-off at around 6.30 am Pyongyang time. The attempted launch came just hours before the start of the third US presidential debate — a timely reminder of the challenge North Korea’s fastmoving nuclear weapons programme will pose to the next occupant of the White House.