Seoul: North Korean missiles explode in the air due to failed tests

Seoul, South Korea (AP): North Korean missiles launched into the capital failed Wednesday and exploded in the air under the assumption that Pyongyang could soon launch the biggest provocation, the largest provocation, South Korean troops report.

Initially, the details of the explosion were unknown; however, this year's tenth launch shows that North Korea is ready to upgrade its arsenal and pressure competitors to make concessions despite constant denuclearization talks.

North Korean missiles exploded at an altitude of about 20 km (12.4 miles), South Korean military officials said they were asking for anonymity because they could not speak publicly with the media about it. He said the cause of the explosion is unknown.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the launch took place near Pyongyang at 9:30am before there was an obvious failure. He said American and South Korean scouts are analyzing the details of the launch.

The United States Indo-Pacific Command later said that North Korea had launched a ballistic missile, but did not reveal if it could not be launched. In a statement, the command said the launch did not pose an immediate threat to the US region and its allies, but urged North Korea to avoid further gestures of instability.

US and South Korean troops noted that Pyongyang tested the ICBM system in the last two launches, citing the development of the Hwasong-17 missile announced by North Korea during a military parade in October 2020.

In the last two launches, on February 27 and March 5, North Korean missiles traveled at medium range, and experts said Pyongyang could finally test long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles.

North Korea announced that it had tested cameras and other systems against spy satellites and claimed it was a photograph taken from space during the test, but it did not confirm the type of missile or missile launched.

According to experts, North Korea wants to strengthen its ICBM capabilities, as it tries to put its first spy satellite into orbit. North Korean President Kim Jong-un has promised to upgrade ICBMs and spy satellites as part of a series of complex weapons systems identified by US military actions.

The Hwasong-17 is North Korea's largest missile capable of traveling up to 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles), allowing it to strike anywhere in the United States. An 82-foot, 25-meter long projectile was recreated at a defense exhibition held in Pyongyang last year.

North Korea has already demonstrated its ability to influence the American continent by launching tests of other ICBMs, Huasong-14 and Hwasong-15, in 2017. Some analysts say that the development of a large projectile means that the country is trying to equip its long-range weapons with multiple weapons to defeat missile defense systems.

In recent months, North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests that experts say are aimed at modernizing its arsenal and putting pressure on the US government, as nuclear disarmament negotiations are pouring in.