North Korea attempts, but fails, to launch missile
Launch attempt comes after Pyongyang held military parade, appeared to display new missiiles
Missiles are driven past the stand with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and other high ranking officials during a military parade marking the 105th birth anniversary of North Korea's founding father, Kim Il-sung, in Pyongyang, on Saturday.
North Korea attempted to launch a missile on Sunday near Sinpo, on its east coast, but it is believed to have failed, South Korea's military said.
The attempted missile launch comes a day after North Korea held a military parade in its capital marking the birth anniversary of the state founder where what appeared to be new ballistic missiles were displayed.
- China warns against war amid North Korea's parade of military might
- N. Korea displays new type of ballistic missile at military parade, S. Korea says
"The North attempted to launch an unidentified missile from near the Sinpo region this morning but it is suspected to have failed," the South's Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
There were no further details, and the office said it was analyzing the launch.
North Korea launched a ballistic missile from the same region earlier this month ahead of a summit meeting between the leaders of the United States and China, its key ally, to discuss the North's increasingly defiant arms program.
South Korea says the North launched a ballistic missile near Sinpo, on its east coast. Pyongyang launched a ballistic missile from the same region earlier this month. (Google/CBC)
U.S. Pacific Command detected and tracked what it assessed to be a North Korean ballistic missile launch at 11:21 a.m. GMT on Saturday, said U.S. Navy Commander Dave Benham, a spokesman for U.S. Pacific Command.
"The missile blew up almost immediately," Benham said. "The type of missile is still being assessed."
Pyongyang, Washington tensions escalate
Tension had escalated sharply in the region amid concerns that the reclusive North Korea may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test or a ballistic missile test launch timed with the April 15 anniversary it calls the "Day of the Sun."
The White House has said U.S. President Donald Trump has put North Korea "on notice" while the possibility of U.S. military action against Pyongyang has gained traction following U.S. strikes against Syria on April 7.
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