While shorter-range missiles are somewhat routine, there is strong outside worry about each longer range North Korean ballistic test.
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea test-fired a mid-range ballistic missile from the western part of its country Saturday, but the launch apparently failed, South Korea and the United States said Saturday.
The test will be condemned by outsiders as yet another step in the North’s push for a nuclear-tipped missile that can strike the U. S. mainland.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the North fired the unidentified missile from around Pukchang, which is near the capital Pyongyang, but provided no other details.
In a statement, press secretary Sean Spicer said, « The Administration is aware of the most recent North Korean missile test. The President has been briefed. »
A U. S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said the missile was likely a medium-range KN-17 ballistic missile. It broke up a couple minutes after the launch and the pieces fell into the Sea of Japan.
A South Korean military official also said without elaborating that the launch was believed to be a failure.
