By Yi Whan-woo
North Korea presumably fired a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) but the launch failed, the Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) said Sunday.
"The missile exploded soon after its liftoff near an airbase in Kusong, North Pyongan Province at around 12:33 p.m., Saturday," the JCS said.
The U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) also said in a separate announcement that the launch was unsuccessful.
If confirmed, this will be the Kim Jong-un regime's first test of a Musudan missile since June 22. It successfully fired one of the two Musudan missiles in back-to-back attempts then, advancing its IRBM technology against the U.S. and its allies.
The Musudan has a range of 3,500 kilometers, which is enough to strike U.S. military bases in Guam.
Citing the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the USSTRATCOM said the launch, Saturday, did not pose a threat to North America.
The Pentagon still condemned Pyongyang, pointing out that its use of ballistic missile technologies is in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
"Our commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad," Pentagon spokesman Cmdr. Gary Ross said. "We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation. We call on North Korea to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the region and focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its commitments and international obligations."
The JCS denounced Pyongyang as well, saying "The military maintains heightened vigilance against any provocations by the North."
Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said Sunday that she wants to work in cooperation with the U.S. and South Korea to assure Japan's security.
The Kim regime has carried out tests of various types of missiles this year, including submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
North Korea presumably fired a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) but the launch failed, the Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) said Sunday.
"The missile exploded soon after its liftoff near an airbase in Kusong, North Pyongan Province at around 12:33 p.m., Saturday," the JCS said.
The U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) also said in a separate announcement that the launch was unsuccessful.
If confirmed, this will be the Kim Jong-un regime's first test of a Musudan missile since June 22. It successfully fired one of the two Musudan missiles in back-to-back attempts then, advancing its IRBM technology against the U.S. and its allies.
The Musudan has a range of 3,500 kilometers, which is enough to strike U.S. military bases in Guam.
Citing the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the USSTRATCOM said the launch, Saturday, did not pose a threat to North America.
The Pentagon still condemned Pyongyang, pointing out that its use of ballistic missile technologies is in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
"Our commitment to the defense of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad," Pentagon spokesman Cmdr. Gary Ross said. "We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation. We call on North Korea to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the region and focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its commitments and international obligations."
The JCS denounced Pyongyang as well, saying "The military maintains heightened vigilance against any provocations by the North."
Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said Sunday that she wants to work in cooperation with the U.S. and South Korea to assure Japan's security.
The Kim regime has carried out tests of various types of missiles this year, including submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
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