North Korea launches missile test as nuclear tensions continue to grow

It follows the largest military display in the country’s history (Picture: Reuters)

North Korea has test-fired a ballistic missile – but it appears to have failed, the South Korean military has announced.
The rocket was launched from an area north of Pyongyang, according to Yonhap news agency.
In a statement, South Korea’s forces said: ‘North Korea fired an unidentified missile from a site in the vicinity of Bukchang in Pyeongannam-do (South Pyeongan Province) early this morning.’
The news agency said the missile appeared to have blown up just a few seconds into flight.
Intelligence officials in the capital Seoul are studying the test to determine the type and flight distance of the projectile.
It came after the US pushed for tougher sanctions on the isolated country, with Donald Trump’s administration warning that patience is wearing thin.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said failure to curb North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs could have ‘catastrophic consequences’.