North Korea s missile test fails: US official (Lead)

Washington/Seoul April 29 (IANS) North Korea on Saturday launched a ballistic missile that blew up over land a spokesman for the US Pacific Command said.

The missile didn t leave North Korean territory CNN quoted US Navy Commander Dave Benham as saying.

A US military assessment found the main part of the missile landed approximately 35 kilometres (22 miles) from Pukchang airfield a US official told CNN.

North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched though unsuccessfully a missile today. Bad! US President Donald Trump tweeted.

South Korean officials said the test likely was a failure.

We are analysing additional information the nation s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. Our military is maintaining a thorough defence posture while keeping a close eye on the possibility of North Korea s further provocations.

White House officials said Trump was briefed as Air Force One returned to Maryland from Atlanta where Trump earlier addressed a meeting of the National Rifle Association.

The test-fired missile probably was a medium-range ballistic missile called a KN-17 the US official said. The KN-17 is a land-based solid-fuel missile fired from a mobile launcher.

North Korean state media did not report on Saturday s launch as is customary in the case of an unsuccessful test.

--IANS
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