Missile test failure dampens parade of military strength
SEOUL — A North Korean missile exploded during launch Sunday from the country’s east coast, U.S. and South Korean officials said, a high-profile failure that comes as a powerful U.S. aircraft carrier approaches the Korean Peninsula in a show of force.
It wasn’t immediately clear what kind of missile was fired from the 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 — a military parade celebrating the 105th birthday of late North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, the current leader’s grandfather.
President Trump was uncharacteristically quiet about the failed launch. In a statement, Defense 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 determine exactly what North Korea fired. While North Korea regularly launches short-range missiles, it is also developing midrange and longrange missiles meant to target U.S. troops in Asia and, eventually, the U.S. mainland.
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. North Korea is thought to have a small arsenal of atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles.
Many analysts believe the country has not yet mastered the technology to build warheads small enough to place on long-range missiles, though some civilian experts say North Korea can already build nuclear-tipped shorter range missiles that have South Korea and Japan within its striking range.
Chronically high animosity has risen on the Korean Peninsula in recent months, as the U.S. and South Korea conduct annual war games that North Korea says are invasion preparation and the North prepared for Saturday’s anniversary celebrations. A U.S. aircraft carrier, the Carl Vinson, is heading to waters off Korea.
Analysts warn that even failed missile launches provide lessons for 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.
Aside from improving the technology, North Korean missile and nuclear tests are seen by outside analysts partly as efforts to bolster the domestic image of leader Kim Jong Un and apply political pressure on Seoul and Washington.
Kim has overseen three nuclear tests and a string of missile and rocket launches since taking over after the death of his father, dictator Kim Jong Il, in late 2011.