N. Korea fires three missiles; US says tests fail

Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea

Three North Korea short-range ballistic missiles failed today, a temporary blow to Pyongyang’s rapid nuclear and missile expansion, U.S. military officials said.

The U.S. Pacific Command said in a statement that two of the North’s missiles failed in flight after an unspecified distance, and another appeared to have blown up immediately. It added that the missile posed no threat to the U.S. territory of Guam, which the North had previously warned it would fire missiles toward.

Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the projectiles fired from the North’s eastern coast flew about 155 miles, though it did not mention any failures. It said South Korea and U.S. militaries were analyzing the launch and didn’t immediately provide more details.

South Korea’s presidential office held a National Security Council meeting to discuss the missiles, which are the first known launches since July, when the North successfully flight tested a pair of intercontinental ballistic missiles that analysts say could reach deep into the U.S. mainland when perfected.

The rival Koreas recently saw their always testy relationship get worse after Pyongyang and President Donald Trump traded warlike threats. Trump warned that he would unleash “fire and fury” if the North continued its threats.

The latest launch comes during an annual joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea that the North condemns as an invasion rehearsal.