iStock/Thinkstock(SEOUL) — An attempted missile launch by North Korea failed when it exploded immediately after liftoff, a U.S. official says.

An official said a missile was launched near Sinpo, North Korea, at 5:21 p.m. ET, and it exploded immediately.

The type of missile is still being assessed, and only one missile was fired, according to U.S. officials. It was unclear whether it was fired from land or from sea.

“U.S. Pacific Command detected and tracked what we assess was a North Korean missile launch at 11:21 a.m. Hawaii time April 15. The launch of the ballistic missile occurred near Sinpo,” U.S. Pacific Command spokesman Commander David Benham said.

An administration official said President Trump has been briefed at Mar a Lago on the failed North Korean missile launch.

Vice President Mike Pence was briefed on what the vice president’s office called a failed missile launch on Air Force 2, currently en route to Seoul. The vice president is expected to arrive in the South Korean capital at 3:30 p.m. local time or 2:30 a.m. ET.

Pence was briefed on the situation in North Korea within an hour of his departure from Anchorage, Alaska, and was in contact with President Trump, aides to the vice president told reporters.

The launch attempt comes hours after North Korea rolled out intercontinental ballistic missiles and other military hardware at a massive parade to celebrate the birthday of the country’s late founder Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un.

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