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 speculations that Pyongyang may soon launch the most important provocation, the most important provocation, according to the 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 pressure its rivals to do concessions despite stable denuclearization negotiations.

North Korean missiles exploded at an altitude of about 20 km (12.4 miles), South Korean military officials said they asked for anonymity because they couldn't speak publicly to the media on the issue. He said the cause of the explosion was unknown.

South Korea's 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 U.S. and South Korean intelligence officers were looking into the details of the launch.

The US Indo-Pacific Command later said that North Korea had launched a ballistic missile but did not reveal if it failed to launch. The command statement reported that the launch did not pose an immediate threat to the region and US 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 two most recent launches, referring to the development of the Hwasong-17 missile announced by North Korea in a parade military in October 2020.

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

North Korea announced that it had tested cameras and other systems against spy satellites and said it was a photo 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 ICBMs capability while trying to put its first spy satellite into orbit. North Korean President Kim Jong-un has promised to improve ICBMs and spy satellites as part of a series of sophisticated weapons systems defined by US hostilities.

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

North Korea has already demonstrated its ability to impact the American continent by launching tests of other ICBMs, Huasong-14 and Hwasong-15, in 2017. Some analysts say that developing a large shell 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, while the nuclear disarmament negotiations are taking off.