N Korea missile test fails before Pence visit

North Korea test-fired a missile early Sunday, hours before US Vice President Mike Pence arrived in Seoul for talks on curbing Pyongyang's weapons programmes, but US officials said it exploded seconds after launch, reports AFP, from Seoul. The latest launch came a day after Pyongyang held a defiant massive military parade as fears grew it may soon conduct another nuclear weapons test.
"The missile blew up almost immediately," the US Defense Department said of the early-morning launch from near Sinpo on the North's east coast. The type of missile was not clear. On Saturday North Korea displayed nearly 60 missiles -- including what is suspected to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile -- at a parade to mark the 105th birthday of its founder Kim Il-Sung. The North has a habit of firing off missiles to mark major political anniversaries, or as gestures of defiance to top US officials visiting the region.
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said President Donald Trump had been briefed on the latest test but had "no further comment". South Korea's foreign ministry said that by conducting the latest test just a day after showcasing a series of missiles, "North Korea has threatened the whole world". Last August a submarine-launched ballistic missile tested from Sinpo flew 500 kilometres (300 miles) towards Japan.

 

N Korea missile test fails before Pence visit

North Korea test-fired a missile early Sunday, hours before US Vice President Mike Pence arrived in Seoul for talks on curbing Pyongyangs weapons programmes, but US officials said it exploded seconds after launch, reports AFP, from Seoul. The latest launch came a day after Pyongyang held a defiant massive military parade as fears grew it may soon conduct another nuclear weapons test. The missile blew up almost immediately, the US Defense Department said of the early-morning launch from near Sinpo on the Norths east coast. The type of missile was not clear. On Saturday North Korea displayed nearly 60 missiles -- including what is suspected to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile -- at a parade to mark the 105th birthday of its founder Kim Il-Sung. The North has a habit of firing off missiles to mark major political anniversaries, or as gestures of defiance to top US officials visiting the region. US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said President Donald Trump had been briefed on the latest test but had no further comment. South Koreas foreign ministry said that by conducting the latest test just a day after showcasing a series of missiles, North Korea has threatened the whole world. Last August a submarine-launched ballistic missile tested from Sinpo flew 500 kilometres (300 miles) towards Japan.