North Korea test-fires ballistic missile,
appears to have failed: South Korea
| SEOUL
North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on Saturday from a region north of its
capital, but it appears to have failed, South Korea's military said, defying
intense pressure from the United States and the reclusive state's main ally, China.
capital, but it appears to have failed, South Korea's military said, defying
intense pressure from the United States and the reclusive state's main ally, China.
An official at South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the launch but
did not immediately have any further information. Yonhap news agency said
the missile appeared to have blown up a few seconds into flight.
did not immediately have any further information. Yonhap news agency said
the missile appeared to have blown up a few seconds into flight.
The test came as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned the United
Nations that failure to curb North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs
could lead to 'catastrophic consequences'.
Nations that failure to curb North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs
could lead to 'catastrophic consequences'.
U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters in an interview on Thursday a "major,
major conflict" with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic
missile programs.
major conflict" with North Korea was possible over its nuclear and ballistic
missile programs.
Trump praised Chinese leader Xi Jinping for "trying very hard" to rein in
Pyongyang.
Pyongyang.
But both China and Russia rebuked Washington's threat of military force at
a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the matter.
a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the matter.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the 15-member council it was not
only up to China to solve the North Korean problem.
only up to China to solve the North Korean problem.
"The key to solving the nuclear issue on the peninsula does not lie in the
hands of the Chinese side," Wang told the council in blunt remarks that
Tillerson later rebuffed.
hands of the Chinese side," Wang told the council in blunt remarks that
Tillerson later rebuffed.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been rising as
North Korea celebrates a number of key anniversaries,
with both sides staging major military drills.
North Korea celebrates a number of key anniversaries,
with both sides staging major military drills.
In a show of force, the United States is sending the
USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters
off the Korean peninsula, where it will join the
USS Michigan, a nuclear submarine that docked in
South Korea on Tuesday. South Korea's navy has
said it will hold drills with the U.S. strike group.
USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to waters
off the Korean peninsula, where it will join the
USS Michigan, a nuclear submarine that docked in
South Korea on Tuesday. South Korea's navy has
said it will hold drills with the U.S. strike group.
(Editing by James Dalgleish and Lincoln Feast)
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