Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sources to Al Mayadeen: The news regarding a press conference tonight by the head of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, Khalil Al-Hayya, is false.
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was martyred in an Israeli drone strike on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The death toll in the al-Bureij camp massacre has risen to 19
Nicolas Maduro: Maria Corina Machado and imperialism wanted to spread violence and chaos so there would be no elections.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro: We were able to neutralize 60 attacks on oil refineries and oil facilities and arrest more than 70 individuals involved.
CNN citing sources: Talks between Washington and Tehran are close to reaching a comprehensive agreement that could be concluded during the next meeting.
US Secretary of State: Washington will begin revoking visas for Chinese students affiliated with the Communist Party or studying in sensitive fields.
Israeli media: Western diplomats: There is a possibility that the US administration will sign an interim agreement or understanding with Iran.
Hamas: We affirm that we are making great efforts to stop the barbaric war on the Gaza Strip.
Hamas: We reached an agreement with Witkoff that includes the flow of aid and a professional committee taking over the management of the Gaza Strip's affairs immediately after the deal is announced.

North Korea launches ballistic missile

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 Mar 2022 09:32
3 Min Read

North Korea launches its tenth ballistic missile this year, which sources say exploded after its launch.

  • x
  • North Korea launches ballistic missile
    North Korea launches ballistic missile

North Korea launched a suspected ballistic missile that detonated mid-air shortly after launch, according to Seoul, with analysts warning that it was most likely a botched test of Pyongyang's so-called "monster missile".

The launch -- North Korea's tenth suspected weapons test this year -- comes after the United States claimed the nuclear-armed country was preparing to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) "at full range" for the first time since 2017.

Despite international sanctions, Pyongyang conducted seven missile tests in January and twice launched components of what it said was a "reconnaissance satellite".

Last week, South Korea and the United States announced that the tests were made of a new ICBM system that has never been fired before, most likely the Hwasong-17 referred to as the "monster missile". 

The suspected ballistic missile "seems to have exploded in midair shortly after launch," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP.

The launch took place at about 09:30 am (1230 GMT) from the Sunan area of Pyongyang, the same location as the February 27 and March 5 satellite tests.

Nuclear-armed North Korea has long desired an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads, and the US declared last week that the previous tests indicated a "significant escalation" of the country's nuclear programs.

However, according to the NK News site, the Wednesday launch ended in "catastrophic failure", with a red-tinged ball of smoke zigzagging across the sky as debris dropped near the city.

All this comes as the US military this week said it had enhanced missile defense systems in South Korea.

Related News

Suspected Yemeni missile disrupts Israeli air traffic; sirens sound

Pakistan diverts to 'India-plus' strategy as US-India relations grow

Monster missile 

North Korea has conducted three ICBM tests, the most recent of which was in November 2017 with a Hwasong-15 believed powerful enough to reach Washington and the whole of the continental United States.

However, since leader Kim Jong Un began on a flurry of high-level diplomacy in 2018, the country has been observing a self-imposed embargo on testing long-range and nuclear missiles.

Negotiations with the US President at the time, Donald Trump, broke down a year later, and Kim has since doubled down on his ambitions to modernize his military while disregarding US offers of negotiations.

"Signs indicate the North test-fired Hwasong-17 today," Cheong Seong-chang, a senior researcher at the private Sejong Institute told AFP.

Pyongyang would meticulously examine the failure of the Wednesday launch, and it may take three tests to guarantee the rocket is operational, he warned.

"I expect the North to conduct one or two more test launches before April 15," he said.

North Korea will commemorate the 110th anniversary of the birth of its founding leader and Kim's grandfather, Kim Il Sung, in April. Such anniversaries are usually accompanied by military parades or launches to exhibit the country's capabilities. 

"The Kim regime wants to demonstrate new technical achievements around the 110th birth anniversary of its founder, Kim Il-sung," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

"If the most recent missile launch was indeed a failure, North Korea will almost certainly continue to test," he added.

Satellite images indicate that North Korea is preparing for a military parade for the April anniversary.

  • Ballistic missiles
  • Kim Jong Un
  • North Korea

Most Read

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, answers a question about his House Bill 3-C: Independent Special Districts in the House of Representatives April 20, 2022, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida (AP/Phil Sears)

GOP lawmaker says Gaza needs same end as WWII Japan, with nukes

  • MENA
  • 23 May 2025
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
Iran advisor reveals details of US-Iran nuclear talks to Al Mayadeen

Iran advisor reveals details of US-Iran nuclear talks: Al Mayadeen

  • MENA
  • 24 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Palestinians cross from the Israeli military Qalandia checkpoint near the West Bank city of Ramallah to occupied al-Quds on Friday, March 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime arrests martyr Walid Daqqa's wife Sanaa

Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)
Politics

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms: Sources

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a news conference following his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, Friday, April 18, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran denounces media speculation, reaffirms conditions for any US deal

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS