U.S. Detects Failed North Korean Missile Test

iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. military has detected a failed North Korean launch of a Musudan Intermediate missile, the seventh test this year of the mobile-launched missile.

A U.S. official said the missile never achieved flight. It is the latest provocation from North Korea, which seems undeterred in its pursuit of a ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs despite international condemnation.

“U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) systems detected what we assess was a failed North Korean missile launch at 10:33 p.m. CDT, October 14, 2016, near the northwestern city of Kusong,” said a statement issued by U.S. Strategic Command.

“The missile is presumed to be a Musadan intermediate-range ballistic missile,” continued the statement. “The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) determined the missile launch from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America.”

A U.S. official said the missile did not achieve flight.

The failed missile test marks the seventh time this year that North Korea has tested its Musudan missile, which has drawn concern from American officials because as a mobile-launched system it can be hard to detect and can be fired on short notice.

Though displayed in military parades in recent years, the missile had never been test fired until March this year. Two more launches followed in late April, another in late May and two more in mid-June.

The first five launch attempts failed before a successful launch was achieved on the sixth attempt in June. That missile test drew concern because it traveled 250 miles before falling into the Sea of Japan.

U.S. officials said that successful launch indicated the North Koreans were learning from each failed launch to make technical adjustments.

The Musudan test Saturday is the latest provocation from North Korea, which has conducted multiple nuclear tests and ballistic missile tests this year, seemingly unfazed by international sanctions that prohibit their development of those programs.

The nuclear tests in January and September marked the first time that North Korea has tested two nuclear devices in one calendar year. It also shows probable progress in North Korea’s stated goal of developing a miniaturized nuclear warhead that could be placed atop a ballistic missile.

With an explosive yield comparable to 10 tons of TNT, the test in September appeared to be the largest of the five conducted by North Korea since its first test in 2006.

The nuclear test in January was followed by a long-range missile launch in February that successfully placed a satellite in orbit.

Satellite imagery recently posted by the blog 38North There showed indications in that North Korea was preparing for another missile test. Additional satellite imagery of North Korea’s nuclear test site shows new activity that could indicate that North Korea is planning for even more nuclear testing.

Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

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