New Test of North Korean Missile Fails, South Says

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile, but the test failed as the projectile exploded shortly after liftoff, the South Korean military said on Sunday.

 

The North’s Hwasong-10 missile, also known as the Musudan, took off at 12:33 p.m. on Saturday near an airfield in the northwestern city of Kusong, the South said in a statement.

 

The test was the first involving the Hwasong-10 since North Korea successfully launched the same missile in June. North Korea has had a spotty record with Hwasong-10 test flights.

 

The June launch was the first successful test after five failures. The projectile flew about 250 miles over the sea between North Korea and Japan, reaching an altitude of 878 miles.

 

That test alarmed the United States and its allies in the region. Their defense officials said the missile’s launch at a sharp angle prevented it from falling too close to Japan but still demonstrated its potential to reach an estimated range of more than 2,000 miles.

 

Read More: New Test of North Korean Missile Fails, South Says – The New York Times