The Pentagon said the North Korea tested a missile but they failed.
The Pentagon revealed that the US Strategic Command systems detected a failed North Korean ballistic missile launch.
According to the report, the missile lauch happened on Saturday evening near the northwestern city of Kusong.
“We strongly condemn this and North Korea’s other recent missile tests, which violate UN Security Council resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea’s launches using ballistic missile technology,” Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross said in a statement.
“We intend to raise our concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these actions,” Ross added.
Ross noted that the US commitment to the defense of its allies in the region, including South Korea and Japan, was “iron-clad” in the face of such North Korean actions.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) determined the missile launch from Pyongyang did not pose a threat to North America.
Despite of this, Ross said that Washington called on Pyongyang to “refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the region.”
The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea said that Washington and Seoul had shared information about the failed missile launch of the North.
In a statement, the Chiefs of Staff said the test was a “clear violation” of a UN Security Council resolution.
It strongly condemned North Korea’s “provocative act” and said South Korea’s military was “prepared” for any more provocations.
As presumed by the Pentagon and South Korea, the missile is believed to be a Musudan intermediate range ballistic missile.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Musadan missiles are capable of reaching Japan and Guam.
The Musudan missile has an estimated range of up to 4,000 km (2,500 miles).
Pyongyang has not yet reacted to the news.
However, the Yonhap news agency reported the missile was believed to have exploded soon after its launch, without citing a source for the information.