North Korea's latest projectile launch unsuccessful

North Korea made another attempt to launch another projectile this week, following its multiple launches so far this year. However, the latest test launch by Pyongyang appears to be unsuccessful, according to South Korean and Japanese authorities.

Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that North Korea’s latest launch of an unidentified projectile was unsuccessful. The suspected missile came from a site near the airport in the capital Pyongyang. Japan’s local media also reported that North Korea fired a potential ballistic missile, according to a defense ministry official.

“North Korea fired an unknown projectile around 9:30 today, but it is presumed that it failed immediately after launch,” said the Seoul JCS in a statement.

“At this point, our assessment is that the projectile launch appears to have been botched as it failed to reach a certain altitude in its early boost phase,” said the JCS, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news outlet.

So far, North Korea has carried out nine weapons tests this year, the previous launch taking place early this month on March 5. Pyongyang said that its two launches were a “reconnaissance satellite,” but according to Seoul and Washington, the tests were in relation to an intercontinental ballistic missile system that has never been tested before.

According to Professor Leif-Eric Easley of South Korea’s Ewha University, it appears that South Korea and the US are taking a more aggressive approach in publicizing North Korea’s latest weapons tests. Easley explained that by publicly disclosing the recent tests, Washington and Seoul are countering Pyongyang’s disinformation campaigns in their claims that its missile tests are simply for self-defense despite violating UN Security Council resolutions.

The launch on March 5 came ahead of South Korea’s presidential elections according to Seoul’s military, which has also been condemned by Japan. Japanese defense minister Nobuo Kishi said the tests posed a threat to the region.

South Korea recently elected conservative Yoon Suk-yeol, who has said that he intends to deal with North Korea’s provocations sternly while seeking to boost trilateral security cooperation with the US and Japan. Yoon also criticized the March 5 launch, accusing Pyongyang of trying to influence the results of South Korea’s elections in favor of his liberal opponent Lee Jae-myung.