N.Korea Fails in Fresh Attempt to Launch Satellite

North Korea has failed in another attempt to launch a military spy satellite. The launch in the early hours of Thursday came some 85 days after its first attempt ended in failure.

The rocket carrying the satellite appears to have been flying smoothly until a problem occurred during the separation of the third stage and it plopped into the sea.

North Korea unusually issued an immediate statement admitting the failure. "The flights of the first and second stages of the rocket were normal, but the launch failed due to an error in the emergency blasting system during the third-stage flight," the North's official Korean Central News Agency said.

In May, the malfunction occurred during the separation of the second stage.

The agency said the National Aerospace Development Administration will investigate the cause of the failure which it says is not "a big issue." NADA will "conduct the third reconnaissance satellite launch in October after thoroughly probing the reason and taking measures," it added.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said, "The military had noticed North Korea's launch preparations in advance and was fully prepared. We immediately detected and monitored the launch."

"It was a clear violation of the UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit any launch using ballistic missile technology," it added.

"While maintaining a robust combined defense posture, we will continue to intensively conduct the ongoing joint exercise with the U.S…. and be prepared to respond to any provocations from North Korea."

The joint Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise started here on Monday and will run until the end of this month.