North Korea Launches "Space Launch Vehicle" In Second Attempt To Launch Satellite, Ends In Failure

North Korean state news admits that the attempt to launch a space launch vehicle ended in failure after an "accident".

TOKYO - Japan reported a missile launch by North Korea, after which South Korea stated that the North claimed it had launched a “space launch vehicle”, which state media says failed due to an "accident", according to state media.

North Korean state news reported, “The flights of the first and second stages of the rocket were normal, but the launch failed due to an error in the emergency blasting system during the third-stage flight”.

The launch was reportedly a second attempt to launch a reconnaissance satellite into orbit after the first attempt had failed.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported to have detected the launch from the Tongchang-ri region on the North Korean west coast at 3:50 in the morning.

"While elevating its vigilance posture, our military, in close cooperation with the United States, is maintaining a full readiness posture," the JCS texted out to reporters.

Japanese Prime Minister's Office Statements: