Wednesday's North Korean rocket exploded "within a few seconds after launch", according to the Pacific command of the United States.
U.S. officials confirmed that North Korea tried to launch a rocket about Calma on the East coast of the country, but early reports indicate that the launch failed. "South Korea and the United States know about the rocket launch, and, as far as we know, the rocket North Korea was started successfully", - reads the statement of the Ministry of defense of South Korea.
Neither the United States nor South Korea did not provide information about what kind of missile was launched or why the launch failed. US Pacific command stated that working with partners for further evaluation. Run started in 4 days after the country announced it had tested a new rocket engine, calling it a "great leap forward" in their missile program. US officials said that the engine can be used for Intercontinental ballistic long-range missiles.
On the background of the launch of South Korea and the United States continued their annual military exercise "Foal Eagle", which often cause retaliatory attacks from the North Koreans. Exercise "Foal Eagle" began on March 1 and ends April 30. Robert Kelly, associate Professor of political science at Pusan national University, said that the latest launch was a "signal" to South Korea from their Northern neighbor.
This is not the first launch of North Korea this month - the country on March 6 launched 4 ballistic medium-range missiles that fell into the waters outside of Japan.