North Korean missile ‘failure’

A new missile launch by North Korea appears to have ended in failure, South Korea has said, three days after Pyongyang claimed a major breakthrough in its rocket development programme.

The reported launch failure came as US and South Korean troops were conducting their annual military drills the North calls an invasion rehearsal.

Earlier this month North Korea fired four ballistic missiles that landed in waters off Japan, triggering strong protests from Seoul and Tokyo.

Yesterday morning, the North fired a missile from the eastern coastal town of Wonsan, but the launch was believed to have ended in failure, Seoul’s Defence Ministry said.

It said it was analysing what type of missile North Korea launched.

US officials said this week their military expected another North Korean missile launch within days.