North Korea's latest missile test flops, according to South

N

orth Korea on Tuesday appeared to have tried and failed with a fresh ballistic missile launch in violation of existing UN resolutions, South Korea's defence ministry said.

The UN measures ban North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, although it regularly fires short-range missiles into the sea off its east coast.

Tensions have been running high on the divided Korean peninsula since the North's fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a long-range rocket launch the following month.

The defence ministry in Seoul said the missile test took place at around 5:20am on Monday near the eastern port city of Wonsan.

"The attempted missile launch ... is believed to have failed," a ministry spokesman said.

"We are analysing and closely monitoring the situation and maintaining a watertight defence posture," he added.

The ministry declined to speculate on the type of missile, but the South's Yonhap news agency quoted military sources saying it was understood to be a medium-range Musudan missile.

In April, the North failed three times to test-fire a Musudan, which has an estimated range of anywhere between 1,550 and 2,500 miles.

The lower range covers the whole of South Korea and Japan, while the upper range would include US military bases on Guam.

The missile has never been successfully flight-tested.

• 1950s

  Nuclear programme begins

  The Soviet Union assists North Korea to start its nuclear programme.

• 1969

  Reports of nuclear weapons development

  Chinese intelligence reports indicate that Pyongyang is embarking on an effort to develop nuclear weapons.

• 1974

  Joins Atomic Energy Agency

  North Korea joins the International Atomic Energy Agency and permits international monitors to examine its work.

• 1985

  Signs up to NPT

  Pyongyang signs up to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) after Russia provides it with the technology for four light-water nuclear reactors designed to generate electricity

• 1986

  Yongbyon reactor in operation

  The Yongbyon reactor is put into operation. Powered by uranium, it is capable of producing weapons-grade plutonium.

• 1993

  Leaves NPT

  Pyongyang leaves the NPT after refusing to reveal details of is nuclear developments to the IAEA

• 1994

  "Agreed Framework" signed

  North Korea and the U.S. sign the "Agreed Framework" under which Pyongyang would freeze its graphite moderated nuclear reactor programme in return for fuel and efforts towards normalised political and economic relations, as well as the construction of two light-water nuclear reactors. North Korea also agrees to abide by IAEA obligations.

• 1998

  Claims of secret nuclear sites

  The US claims North Korea is developing nuclear weapons at secret sites.

• 2002

  Contravenes agreed nuclear framework

  In contravention of the 1994 Agreed Framework, North Korea is discovered to be pursuing uranium enrichment technology and plutonium reprocessing technologies. North Korea tells U.S. diplomats that it has nuclear weapons.

• April 2003

  Leaves NPT (again)

  North Korea again withdraws from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

• August 2003

  Refuses to dismantle nuclear capabilities

  Six Party talks open in Beijing, bringing together China, North Korea, the US, South Korea, Russia and Japan. Washington requests the complete and confirmed dismantling of the North's nuclear capabilities, but Pyongyang refuses.

• February 2005

  Declares nuclear weapons

  North Korea publicly declares it has nuclear weapons and withdraws from the six-party talks seeking a solution to the nuclear non-proliferation issue.

• September 2005

  Agrees to scrap nuclear

  North Korea agrees to a preliminary accord under the renewed six-party talks that it would scrap all existing nuclear weapons and nuclear production facilities, rejoin the NPT and allow IAEA inspectors to return.

• October 2006

  First nuclear test

  Size: less than one kiloton

  North Korea detonates a nuclear device with an estimated explosive force of less than one kiloton. China, which had reportedly attempted to convince the regime not to go ahead with the test, was given a 20 minute warning and flashed an emergency alert to Washington.

• October 2006

  Second nuclear test

  Size: Around 5 kilotons

  North Korea detonates a second nuclear device and launches a number of short-range surface-to-air missiles. The yield of the test was put at close to 5 kilotons.

• February 2013

  Third nuclear test

  Size: 6-7 kilotons

  An underground explosion at North Korea's Punngye-ri nuclear test site is detected, with experts estimating the size of the blast at between 6 and 7 kilotons.

• April 2015

  Evidence that Yongbyon has reactor restarted

  Satellite pictures suggest the reactor at Yongbyon, the main nuclear site may have been restarted.

• May 2015

  North claims to have nuclear weapons capable of hitting US

• December 2015

  King Jong-un makes "H-bomb' claims

  King Jong-un claims that his country is prepared to detonate a hydrogen bomb in the first direct reference by the North to an “H-bomb”. At the time, the claim is greeted with widespread scepticism outside the country.

• January 2016

  "Successful" hydrogen bomb test

  North Korea announces that it has conducted a "successful" hydrogen bomb test, which would be the first test of such a device. The announcement comes shortly after an “earthquake” with an epicentre close to Punggye-ri nuclear test site is registered.