US Navy Commander Dave Benham has claimed that the ballistic missile tested by North Korea failed to reach the target and blew up over land.
According to CNN, Dave Benham said that the missile didn't leave North Korean territory.
A US military assessment found the main part of the missile landed approximately 35 kilometres (22 miles) from Pukchang airfield, a US official told CNN.
"North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad!," US President Donald Trump tweeted.
South Korean officials said the test likely was a failure.
"We are analysing additional information," the nation's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. "Our military is maintaining a thorough defence posture while keeping a close eye on the possibility of North Korea's further provocations."
White House officials said Trump was briefed as Air Force One returned to Maryland from Atlanta, where Trump earlier addressed a meeting of the National Rifle Association.
The test-fired missile probably was a medium-range ballistic missile called a KN-17, the US official said. The KN-17 is a land-based solid-fuel missile fired from a mobile launcher.
North Korean state media did not report on Saturday's launch, as is customary in the case of an unsuccessful test.
Washington/Seoul, April 29 (IANS) North Korea on Saturday launched a ballistic missile that blew up over land, a spokesman for the US Pacific Command said.
The missile didn't leave North Korean territory, CNN quoted US Navy Commander Dave Benham as saying.
A US military assessment found the main part of the missile landed approximately 35 kilometres (22 miles) from Pukchang airfield, a US official told CNN.
"North Korea disrespected the wishes of China & its highly respected President when it launched, though unsuccessfully, a missile today. Bad!," US President Donald Trump tweeted.
South Korean officials said the test likely was a failure.
"We are analysing additional information," the nation's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. "Our military is maintaining a thorough defence posture while keeping a close eye on the possibility of North Korea's further provocations."
White House officials said Trump was briefed as Air Force One returned to Maryland from Atlanta, where Trump earlier addressed a meeting of the National Rifle Association.
The test-fired missile probably was a medium-range ballistic missile called a KN-17, the US official said. The KN-17 is a land-based solid-fuel missile fired from a mobile launcher.
North Korean state media did not report on Saturday's launch, as is customary in the case of an unsuccessful test.
(With IANS inputs)
