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EmailN.Korea's rocket exploded mid-air: Seoul defence ministry
North Korea's rocket exploded mid-air before splashing down in the Yellow Sea off South Korea, Seoul's defence ministry said Friday.
"North Korea's rocket flew about one or two minutes before it exploded mid-air," the defence ministry said in a statement. "So the missile test is deemed to have failed."
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The missile reached as high as 151 kilometres (94 miles) over South Korea's Baengnyeong island in the Yellow Sea near the inter-Korean sea border before it disintegrated into some 20 pieces.
The rocket started breaking up before it reached its maximum altitude, Major General Shin Won-Sik told journalists.
"As it was coming down to earth, it went through another explosion," he added.
Debris fell over a wide area, about 100 to 150 kilometres west of Pyeongtaek City, he said, adding no damage has been reported.
North Korea has said the rocket would place a satellite in orbit for peaceful research purposes, but Western critics see the launch as a thinly veiled ballistic missile test, banned by United Nations resolutions.
© 2012 AFP
Source : AFP
