North Korea's 'unsuccessful' missile test

South Korea's Defense Ministry says North Korea's latest missile test was a failure.

This comes three days after North Korean state media announced that the country's military had tested a new powerful rocket engine.

South Korea says the missile test took place on Wednesday (March 22) near the city of Wonsan, located on North Korea's east coast.

Officials in Seoul say they are examining the type of missile.

The news comes as joint military exercises between the US and South Korea continue, which North Korea sees as a serious threat to its security.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced on Sunday that a "new birth" has taken place in the country's missile industry, and that a new rocket engine will help North Korea achieve global satellite launch capability.

The development, which has not been confirmed by another source, coincided with a visit by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to China, North Korea's main ally.

Mr. Tillerson said on Friday during his visit to South Korea that military options would be on the table if Pyongyang continued to threaten South Korea or US forces stationed there.

North Korea has so far conducted five nuclear tests, which have been strongly condemned by the United Nations Security Council.

Experts believe that Pyongyang is seeking to build a nuclear warhead capable of reaching the US mainland, although military experts are skeptical about the veracity of Pyongyang's claims.

Source: BBC