N/Korea test-fires Musudan ballistic missiles

North Korea has conducted back-to-back tests of a mid-range ballistic missile from its eastern coast, South Korean officials say. One test of the powerful Musudan intermediate-range missile made considerable improvements in flight distance and altitude over previous failed launches, but still fell well short of the missile’s projected range. Wednesday’s tests marked Pyongyang’s fifth and […]

North Korea has conducted back-to-back tests of a mid-range ballistic missile from its eastern coast, South Korean officials say.
One test of the powerful Musudan intermediate-range missile made considerable improvements in flight distance and altitude over previous failed launches, but still fell well short of the missile’s projected range.
Wednesday’s tests marked Pyongyang’s fifth and sixth attempt since April to successfully launch its Musudan missile.
The first five launches failed, either exploding in midair or crashing, and the sixth only flew about 400km – well short of the missile’s 3,500-km potential and not long enough to be classified as intermediate.
One of the missiles launched on Wednesday reached an altitude of more than 1,000km, displaying marked progress in comparison with previous attempts, Japan’s defence minister said on Wednesday.