North Korean Media United in 'Silence' Over Missile Launch Failure

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 17th, a suspected new type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from North Korea failed to launch, and on the 18th, major North Korean state media outlets made no mention of it.

Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and the Workers' Party organ newspaper Rodong Sinmun did not cover any missile-related news that day.

Typically, when North Korea launches a missile, these media outlets define the nature of the launch and release related photos in articles the following morning. KCNA had previously described the ballistic missile launches on the 28th of last month and the 6th of this month as "important tests for reconnaissance satellite development."

However, this time, since the ballistic missile launched the previous day exploded mid-air, it appears there was a reluctance to announce this domestically and internationally.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea test-launched a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the Sunan area of Pyongyang the previous morning, but it exploded mid-air at an altitude of 20 km.

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