U.S. and South Korean military officials say they have detected a failed ballistic missile launch in North Korea near the northwestern city of Kusong.
In a statement, The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said North Korea likely launched a Musudan intermediate-range missile early Thursday. U.S. and South Korean monitors say the missile appeared to have exploded shortly after take-off and thus posed no threat.
"We strongly condemn the North's continued illegal acts of provocation and are fully prepared to counter any further provocations," the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement Thursday.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a news conference Thursday Japan was aware of the missile launch and expects more missiles out of North Korea as the country expands its development program.
美国与韩国军方官员说，他们探测到朝鲜在西北部龟城进行了一次失败的弹道导弹发射。
北美防空司令部在声明中说，朝鲜星期四早晨可能发射了一枚舞水端中程导弹。美韩监测人员说，导弹显然在发射后不久爆炸，没有构成威胁。
韩国参谋长联席会议星期四发表声明说，“我们对朝鲜持续的非法挑衅行动提出强烈谴责，全面准备对抗任何进一步挑衅。”
日本内阁官房长官菅义伟星期四在资讯发布会上说，日本已经知悉朝鲜导弹试射的消息，并预计，随着朝鲜武器发展项目的扩大，朝鲜还会试射更多导弹。