North Korea's attempt to launch ballistic missile fails

North Korea attempted to launch an intermediate range ballistic missile off the country's east coast today, but the launch failed. South Korea's Yonhap News Agency said, the failed launch follows North



Korea's fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch the next month, which led to fresh UN sanctions. The news agency said, the failed launch appeared to be a Musudan missile with a range of more than 3,000 kilometers.

The United States, which has 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea, yesterday said, it was aware of reports that North Korea was preparing to test intermediate-range missiles and was closely monitoring the Korean Peninsula. Today is the anniversary of North Korean founding President Kim Il Sung's birthday which is widely celebrated in the isolated country.