US confirms North Korea missile launch

[WASHINGTON] Pyongyang has fired a ballistic missile but it did not leave North Korean territory, the US military's Pacific Command said Friday.

"US Pacific Command detected what we assess was a North Korean missile launch at 10.33 am Hawaii time ... The ballistic missile launch occurred near the Pukchang airfield," Pacom spokesman Commander Dave Benham said in a statement.

"The missile did not leave North Korean territory."

He added that the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) determined the missile did not pose a threat to North America.

The White House said President Donald Trump has been informed of the missile launch.

The South Korean news agency Yonhap said the missile, which was launched early Saturday local time, failed within seconds of launch.

AFP