N Korea missile launch fails day after military parade

A North Korean missile has detonated soon after launch, South Korean and US military officials have said, a day after Pyongyang warned the US amid rising tension in the region.

The US said a ballistic missile exploded within seconds of launch.

Hours earlier, North Korea paraded what appeared to be long-range ballistic missiles at a major military display.

It has already conducted five nuclear tests and a series of missile launches in contravention of UN resolutions.

The latest development came as US Vice-President Mike Pence arrived in the South Korean capital, Seoul, where he was expected to discuss the best way to deal with North Korea’s missile and nuclear programmes.

Mr Pence, beginning a long-planned 10-day Asia trip, his first official visit to the region, addressed US soldiers at an Easter service, telling them that the commitment to South Korea had “never been stronger”.

The South Korean defence ministry said that “North Korea attempted to test an unidentified type of missile from [its eastern port of] Sinpo”. It added that the launch on Sunday had “failed”.

The US Pacific Command later confirmed the failed test, adding that it had detected and tracked what it believed to be a North Korean ballistic missile.

“The missile blew up almost immediately,” said US Navy Commander Dave Benham, quoted by Reuters.

One unnamed US official said it was unlikely to have been an intercontinental (ICBM) missile, but investigations were continuing.

Ballistic missiles follow high trajectories and are initially powered and guided, but fall to their target under gravity. ICBMs follow a sub-orbital trajectory, others stay within the atmosphere.