WASHINGTON, August 3. /TASS/. One of two ballistic missiles simultaneously launched by North Korea exploded right after the launch while the other plunged into the Sea of Japan, a representative of the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) told TASS.
"U.S. Strategic Command systems detected what we assess were two North Korean missile launches at 5:53 p.m. CDT, August 2, 2016. The simultaneous launch of two presumed No Dong intermediate range ballistic missiles occurred near the western city of Hwangju," he said.
"Initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan," he said, adding that "the missile launches from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America."
"USSTRATCOM, NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, and U.S. Pacific Command remain vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and are fully committed to working closely with our Republic of Korea and Japanese allies to maintain security," he added.
As was reported earlier with reference to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), North Korea launched a ballistic missile from Hwanghae-namdo Province towards the Sea of Japan at around 8 am local time (around 2 am Moscow time).