North Korea’s Missile Test ‘Fails’
South Korea’s Defense Ministry says North Korea’s latest missile test has been unsuccessful.
This comes three days after North Korean state media reported that the country’s military had tested a powerful new rocket engine.
South Korea says the missile test was conducted on Wednesday (March 22) near the city of Wonsan, located on North Korea’s eastern coast.
Officials in Seoul say they are investigating the type of missile involved.
The announcement comes as joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea continue. North Korea views these drills as a serious threat to its security.
Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s leader, said on Sunday that a “new birth in the missile industry” has occurred in the country and that the new rocket engine will help North Korea achieve global capability in satellite launches.
This development, which has not been confirmed by other sources, coincided with a visit by Rex Tillerson, the U.S. Secretary of State, to China—North Korea’s main ally.
During his trip to South Korea on Friday, Mr. Tillerson said that if Pyongyang continues to threaten South Korea or U.S. forces stationed in the country, military options would be on the table.
North Korea has conducted five nuclear tests to date, which the United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned.
Experts believe Pyongyang is seeking to develop a nuclear warhead capable of reaching American soil, though military analysts question the actual credibility of Pyongyang’s claims.
Source: BBC
