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A U.S. official has confirmed that a North Korean long-range missile broke apart midair after launch, ABC News reports. U.S. officials say they believe the missile fell apart within the Earth's atmosphere before crashing into the sea.
The U.N. Security Council will meet Friday to discuss a response to the North's attempted launch.
South Korea's Defense Ministry first reported the launch, which is seen as defying international warnings and widely viewed as a provocation from the rogue nation.
Japan's Defense Minister Naiki Tanaka has backed U.S. reports that the launch failed. "We have confirmed that a certain flying object has been launched and fell after flying for just over a minute," Tanaka said.
Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told reporters in a nationally televised news conference that the rocket was fired at 7:39 a.m.
South Korean and U.S. intelligence reports say the launch was made from the west coast launch pad in the hamlet of Tongchang-ri, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said.
The launch comes after weeks of speculation regarding the possible launch, which North Korea's government says is being done to send a weather satellite into orbit. If true, it would represent the third failed attempt by North Korea to send a satellite into space since 1998.
North Korea says it was timing the launch to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the country's former leader, Kim Il Sung, which they are celebrating Sunday
However, most observers say the launch is actually tied to the country's missile program. Japan has already given its military clearance to shoot-down the rocket if it crosses into Japanese airspace.
CNN, MSNBC and the AP have confirmed the launch. A White House statement is expected to be issued shortly.
There was no word from Pyongyang about the launch. Link
The U.N. Security Council will meet Friday to discuss a response to the North's attempted launch.
South Korea's Defense Ministry first reported the launch, which is seen as defying international warnings and widely viewed as a provocation from the rogue nation.
Japan's Defense Minister Naiki Tanaka has backed U.S. reports that the launch failed. "We have confirmed that a certain flying object has been launched and fell after flying for just over a minute," Tanaka said.
Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told reporters in a nationally televised news conference that the rocket was fired at 7:39 a.m.
South Korean and U.S. intelligence reports say the launch was made from the west coast launch pad in the hamlet of Tongchang-ri, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said.
The launch comes after weeks of speculation regarding the possible launch, which North Korea's government says is being done to send a weather satellite into orbit. If true, it would represent the third failed attempt by North Korea to send a satellite into space since 1998.
North Korea says it was timing the launch to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the country's former leader, Kim Il Sung, which they are celebrating Sunday
However, most observers say the launch is actually tied to the country's missile program. Japan has already given its military clearance to shoot-down the rocket if it crosses into Japanese airspace.
CNN, MSNBC and the AP have confirmed the launch. A White House statement is expected to be issued shortly.
There was no word from Pyongyang about the launch. Link
Right about now in Pyongyang, that fat little shit stain is probably shaking like a leaf in fear...NK really needed the prestige/notoriety from a successful launch and now domestically and internationally, he gets neither.
(The reader's message boards have idiots promoting their belief that the YAL-1 airborne laser (retired in February) shot it down.
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