North Korean missile 'blows up almost immediately' during launch
North Korea has attempted to launch a missile, but it "blew up almost immediately", a US military spokesman has said.
The state launched the missile near Sinpo, on its east and the US Pacific Command detected and tracked it.
US Navy Commander Dave Benham, a spokesman for US Pacific Command said what is believed to be a ballistic missile was launched at 11.20am Hawaiian time on Saturday.
"The missile blew up almost immediately," Benham said. "The type of missile is still being assessed."
It is believed that the missile was one of the country's new "game-changer" intercontinental ballistic missiles, which were revealed to the world during celebrations of the 105th anniversary of the birth of the nation's founder Kim Il Sung, the current leader Kim Jong-Un's grandfather.
On the day of the celebration, which included a large military parade Kim threatened the world with "nuclear justice" if the United States continued to challenge the rogue state.
The test firing can be seen as a message of defiance to the Trump administration, coming as it does on the day US Vice President Mike Pence is set to arrive in Seoul for talks on North Korea.
US President Donald Trump was uncharacteristically quiet about the failed launch.
In a statement, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Trump and his military team "are aware of North Korea's most recent unsuccessful missile launch. The president has no further comment."
Earlier South Korea's Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it "suspected" the missile launch had failed.
The North launched a ballistic missile from the same region earlier this month ahead of a summit meeting between the leaders of the US and China, its key ally, to discuss the North's increasingly defiant arms program.
Tension had escalated sharply in the region amid concerns that the reclusive North may soon conduct a sixth nuclear test or a ballistic missile test launch timed with the April 15 anniversary it calls the "Day of the Sun".
The White House has said US President Donald Trump has put the North "on notice" while the possibility of US military action against Pyongyang has gained traction following US strikes against Syria on April 7.
Mr Trump has ordered a navy strike group flagshipped by a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to head to the region as a show of force as his officials assess tougher economic sanctions as well as military options against the North.
The North has in turn warned of a nuclear strike against the US if provoked.
US Vice President Mike Pence as part of a 10-day trip to Asia arrives in South Korea on Sunday in what his aides said was a sign of the US commitment to its ally in the face of rising tensions over the North's weapons programs.
One of Kim's spokespeople Choe Ryong Hae has reportedly vowed that the nation would "beat down enemies with the power of nuclear justice", News Corp reports.
During the celebrations Mr Choe is quoted as saying a packed-out square: “If the United States wages reckless provocation against us, our revolutionary power will instantly counter with annihilating strike, and we will respond to full out war with full out war and to nuclear war with our style of nuclear strike warfare.”
Missiles appeared to be the main theme of the giant parade, but Kim Jong Un, took time to greet the commander of the Strategic Forces, the branch of the military that oversees the missile arsenal.
It has not been confirmed exactly what type missile was launched.
Washington and Seoul are expected to try hard to figure out what exactly North Korea fired.
This matters because while North Korea regularly launches short-range missiles, it is also developing mid-range and long-range missiles meant to target US troops in Asia and, eventually, the US mainland.
The ultimate goal is to have a full array of nuclear-tipped missiles in response to what Pyongyang says is hostility by Washington and Seoul meant to topple its government.
North Korea is thought to have a small arsenal of atomic bombs and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles.
Many outside analysts believe that North Korea has not yet mastered the technology to build warheads small enough to place on long-range missiles, though some civilian experts say North Korea can already build nuclear-tipped shorter range missiles that have South Korea and Japan within its striking range.
In Seoul, South Korea's presidential office convened a national security council meeting to examine security postures.
Analysts warn that even failed missile launches provide valuable knowledge to North Korea as it tries to build its weapons program.
The country launched a long-range rocket and conducted two nuclear tests last year, including its most powerful to date.
Newsbreak – April 16
