A missile test carried out by the DPRK has been unsuccessful, South Korea’s military said following initial reports by Kyodo News.
The Japanese news agency has previously said that Pyongyang fired several projectiles, however Seoul and Washington have spoken of one failed missile.
"North Korea fired one missile from an area near the Wonsan Air Base this morning but it's presumed to have failed," South Korea’s defense ministry said in a brief statement.
Wonsan, in the eastern part of the DPRK, is the site of previous launches of medium-range ballistic Musudan missile.
US Pacific Command spokesman Dave Benham said in a statement that Pyongyang’s launch was not successful.
“A missile appears to have exploded within seconds of launch,” Benham said
The type of the projectile has not been immediately identified.
Earlier this month, the DPRK fired four ballistic missiles into the waters off its eastern coast.
Wednesday’s launch came three days after the country's leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a ground jet test of a "Korean-style high-thrust engine" newly developed by the Academy of the National Defence Sciences.
It is the third time that the country launched missile test since the beginning of this year – a move that has angered South Korea, triggered opposition from China and drew the ire of the international community.
China holds a constant and clear stance on opposing the DPRK conducting nuclear tests, and acts in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.
Any chance for dialogue on the situation of the Korean peninsula must be seized, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during the China Development Forum in Beijing on Monday.
A report published by AP on Tuesday quoted US defense officials as saying that the American military had increased its surveillance over DPRK as it expected another missile launch in few days given that “a missile launcher (was seen) moving around, as well as construction of VIP seating in the eastern coastal city Wonsan.”
On the same day, a DPRK envoy told Reuters that Pyongyang does not fear any US move to broaden sanctions aimed at cutting it off from the global financial system, and will pursue "acceleration" of its nuclear and missile programs.
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