We start with the South Korean military reiterating the failure of the North’s claim that what it launched on Wednesday was a successful test of the new multi-nuclear warhead missile.
The South’s military released a video of the missile traveling in an abnormal trajectory before exploding mid-air.
Our Correspondent Bae Eun-ji leads us off.
This is footage of a North Korean missile launch on Wednesday morning, filmed by South Korean military troops near the border.
The missile is seen leaving a spiral trail of smoke, rather than traveling in a straight line.
Soon after the launch, it catches fire,.. and shatters into pieces.
The missile reportedly traveled around 200 kilometers, before exploding in mid-air, spreading debris into the East Sea.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff explained Friday that the abnormal trajectory clearly shows the North did not succeed in separating warheads, adding that South Korea and the U.S. believe Wednesday’s test was a “complete failure.”
This comes after the North insisted the latest test launch was a success, claiming that the three separated warheads were guided correctly to coordinated targets.
“The missile launched by North Korea yesterday exploded mid-air, in the early stage of flight. The North released some other information this morning, which I believe is mere deception and exaggeration.”
The South’s military has been questioning the credibility of the missile launch photos released by the North on Thursday, as they appear to be similar to the Hwasong-17 liquid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile launched by the North last year.
The JCS believes there is a motive to cover up Wednesday’s failure, especially following the regime’s recent failed attempt at launching a reconnaissance satellite.
The military says it will continue to keep close tabs on North Korea, as the regime will likely try to test-launch the missile once more.
Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.
Source : Arirang TV, https://www.arirang.com/news/view?id=272560
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