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

Seoul, South Korea (AP) - North Korean missiles launched in the capital failed on Wednesday and exploded in the air amid speculation that Pyongyang could soon launch the most important provocation, the most important provocation, according to South Korean troops.

At first, the details of the explosion were unknown; however, this year's tenth launch shows that North Korea is determined to modernize its arsenal and put pressure on its rivals to make concessions despite stable denuclearization negotiations.

North Korean missiles exploded at an altitude of about 20 km (12.4 mi), South Korean military officials said they asked for anonymity because they could not speak publicly with the media on the matter. He said that the cause of the explosion was unknown.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the launch took place in the Pyongyang area at 9:30am before an apparent failure occurred. He said that US and South Korean intelligence officers were analyzing the details of the launch.

The US Indo-Pacific Command later said that North Korea had launched a ballistic missile but did not disclose whether it failed to launch. The command statement reported that the launch did not pose an immediate threat to the US region and allies, but urged North Korea to avoid further instability gestures.

The United States and South Korean troops noted that Pyongyang tested the ICBM system in the two most recent launches, referring to the development of the Hwasong-17 missile announced by North Korea at a military parade in October 2020.

In the two most recent launches on February 27 and March 5, North Korean missiles traveled medium-range, and experts said that Pyongyang may finally conduct tests on long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles.

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

According to experts, North Korea wants to strengthen its ICBM capability as it tries to put its first spy satellite into orbit. North Korean President Kim Jong-un vowed to improve ICBMs and spy satellites as part of a series of sophisticated weapon systems that were defined by US hostilities.

The Hwasong-17 is North Korea's largest missile capable of travelling up to 15,000 kilometres (9,320 mi), allowing it to strike anywhere in the United States. A 25-metre (82-foot) long projectile has been reproduced at a defense exhibition held in Pyongyang last year.

North Korea has already demonstrated its ability to impact the American continent through test launches 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 overcome missile defense systems.

In recent months, North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests, which experts say is an attempt to modernize its arsenal and put pressure on the US government, as negotiations on nuclear disarmament are taking off.