A mock Scud-B missile of North Korea, center, and other South Korean mock missiles are displayed at the Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 16, 2016. South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold their first joint military training next month focused on cooperating to detect signs of missile launches from North Korea and trace missile trajectories, a Seoul defense official said Monday. AP
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that North Korea attempted to launch an unidentified missile at about 5:20 a.m. local time but that it is presumed to have failed.
The JCS says it is further analyzing the situation, and gave no other immediate details.
The apparent launch failure comes amid tensions over recent nuclear and missile progress that has outsiders worried North Korea is closing in on its goal of a nuclear missile that can hit mainland America.
South Korea has also rejected recent North Korea overtures to talk, part of what some analysts see as an attempt to start dialogue meant to win the impoverished country aid.
RELATED STORIES
North Korea threatens South’s ships after sea border chase
Seoul ‘on alert’ for North Korea nuke test