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

SEOUL, South Korea (Associated Press) - A North Korean missile launched in the capital on Wednesday failed and exploded into the air with speculation that Pyongyang could soon begin its most important provocation, its most important provocation.

At first, the details of the explosion were unknown, but this year's 10th launch shows that North Korea is determined to modernize its arsenal and pressure its competitors to make concessions, despite stable denuclearization negotiations.

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

The Chief of Joint Staff of the Republic of Korea said in a statement that the launch took place in the Pyongyang area at 9:30 a.m., before a clear failure occurred. He said US and South Korean intelligence officers are analyzing the details of the launch.

The US Indo-Pacific Command later reported that North Korea fired a ballistic missile, but did not reveal whether it failed to launch. The leadership statement urged North Korea to avoid further destabilizing gestures, although this launch did not pose a direct threat to the US region and its allies.

Referring to the development of the Hwasong-17 missile announced by North Korea at a military procession in October 2020, US and South Korean forces indicated that Pyongyang tested the anti-ballistic missile system in its last two launches.

In the last two launches on February 27 and March 5, North Korean missiles have traveled medium distances, and experts stated that Pyongyang will finally conduct tests on long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles.

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

According to experts, North Korea wants to enhance its capabilities on continental electronic continents while trying to put its first spy satellite into orbit. North Korean President Kim Jong-un has pledged to improve continental continents and satellites to spy as part of a series of sophisticated weapons systems defined by U.S. hostilities.

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

North Korea has already demonstrated its ability to influence the American continent through pilot launches of other ballistic missile systems, Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15 in 2017. Some analysts say that developing a large missile 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, and experts say it is an attempt to modernize its arsenal and put pressure on the US government as negotiations on denuclearization begin.