North Korea’s bungled missile launch angers China

SEOUL: North Korea attempted and failed to launch what experts believe was an intermediaterange ballistic missile yesterday in defiance of UN sanctions and in an embarrassing setback for leader Kim Jong Un, drawing criticism from major ally China.

The failed launch follows the North’s fourth nuclear test in January and a long- range rocket launch in February, which led to new UN sanctions.

But the North has nevertheless pushed ahead with its missile programme, supervised by Kim, in breach of UN Security Council resolutions.

A US government source told Reuters the missile never got off the launch pad, instead bursting into flames on the ground. It was not yet clear what caused the failure but further tests are expected, said the source, who asked not to be named.

China, North Korea’s most important economic and political backer, has been angered by Pyongyang’s nuclear tests and rocket launches in the face of UN sanctions.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the security council was clear on North Korean rocket launches.

“At present, the situation on the peninsula is complex and sensitive,” he told reporters. “We hope all parties can strictly respect the decisions of the security council and avoid taking any steps that could further worsen tensions.”

Chinese state media was more direct.

“The firing of a mid-range ballistic missile, though failed, marks the latest in a string of sabre-rattling that, if unchecked, will lead the country nowhere,” China’s official Xinhua news agency said.

“Nuclear weapons will not make Pyongyang safer. On the contrary, its costly military endeavours will keep on suffocating its economy.”

Yesterday was the anniversary of North Korean founding president Kim Il Sung’s birthday, which is widely celebrated. In 2012, it was marked by a longrange rocket launch attempt that also failed.

The US defence department said in a statement the launch was detected and tracked by the US strategic command, which also assessed it had failed.

The missile likely was a Musudan, an intermediate-range ballistic missile with a design range of more than 3 000km that can be fired from a mobile launcher but which has never been flighttested.

Some experts have said North Korea may choose to test-fire the Musudan as it tries to build an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to put the mainland US within range. – Reuters