N. Korea's ballistic missile explodes shortly after launch

A long contrail presumed to be from a North Korean ballistic missile is stretched over the sea near Daeyeonpyeong Island in Ongjin County Incheon at around 532 am on June 26 Yonhap Photo — A long contrail, believed to originate from a North Korean ballistic missile, is visible in the sky over Ongjin, Incheon. Yonhap

SEOUL, June 26 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea early Wednesday morning, but the missile exploded in mid-air shortly after liftoff, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

The JCS said the missile was launched at around 5:30 a.m. from an area near Pyongyang, but it is "believed to have failed."

The South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are conducting further analysis.

The missile launch follows Pyongyang's series of provocations including sending propaganda balloons filled with trash and feces across the border areas since late last month.

North Korea has launched a bizarre campaign of sending hundreds of such trash-filled balloons towards South Korea six times already this year, including another 250 overnight.

The JCS said no harmful substances were found in the retrieved balloons, but there are growing concerns about the safety of residents in border areas where these balloons land.

They also affected air traffic, casing disruptions and delays in landings and takeoffs at Incheon International Airport for about three hours on the same day.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

N. Korea's ballistic missile explodes shortly after launch

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