North Korea had another big missile test failure, Seoul says

Peter Weber, The Week US's avatar
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North Korea tries, fails, to launch powerful new missile
(Image credit: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images)

On April 15, the birthday of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, Pyongyang tried to test-fire a medium-range Musudan missile, and failed. On Thursday, North Korea tried again, according to South Korea's Defense Ministry, and this one crashed seconds after liftoff. The Musudan rockets are designed to travel up to 1,800 miles, putting U.S. bases in the Asia Pacific within range. The failed launch is another embarrassment for leader Kim Jong Un, before a major meeting of the ruling party in Pyongyang next week.

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Peter Weber, The Week US
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.