The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Wednesday a rocket carrying a military reconnaissance satellite it launched earlier in the day failed due to an engine problem and that the country plans to carry out its second launch "as soon as possible."

The DPRK launched the satellite Malligyong-1, mounted on a new-type rocket named Chollima-1, at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Cholsan County of North Phyongan Province at 6:27 a.m., according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The carrier rocket "fell into the West Sea of Korea (Yellow Sea) after losing thrust due to the abnormal starting of the second-stage engine after the separation of the first stage during the normal flight," KCNA reported.

A spokesperson for the National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) – the state-run space development agency – attributed the failure to the low reliability and stability of the new-type engine system applied to carrier rocket Chollima-1 and the unstable character of the fuel used.

Noting the investigation to the causes are underway, the NADA said the country will conduct a second launch as soon as possible through various part tests.

Officials from the United States, Japan and South Korea held a phone call, where they "strongly condemned" the launch, Japan's foreign ministry said.

The DPRK said on Tuesday the planned launch of the military reconnaissance satellite is "indispensable" to track, monitor and cope with "dangerous" military exercises by the United States and South Korea in real time and also strengthen the military preparedness of its armed forces.

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(With input from agencies)