The missile launch failure has raised concerns that North Korea will soon launch its farthest range missile. The South Korean military stated that a North Korean missile launched from its capital region exploded shortly after Wednesday's launch of a clearly failed weapon, leading to speculation that North Korea is preparing to launch its farthest range missile. This is the most significant provocation in years.

The details of the missile explosion are currently unclear. But this launch is the 10th of its kind this year, indicating North Korea's determination to continue modernizing its arsenal and forcing its competitors todenuclearizationMake concessions during negotiations.

On Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at a train station in Seoul, South Korea, people watched news programs and document clips about North Korean missiles on television screens. North Korean missiles are less than 20 kilometers away（An explosion occurred while flying at an altitude of 12.4 miles, and a South Korean military official requested anonymity because he was not publicly authorized to speak to the media about the matter. He said the cause of the explosion is still unclear.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff earlier stated that the launch was from the Pyongyang area around 9:30 am (0030 Greenwich Mean Time), but did not provide any other details.

Lee Joon geun, an honorary researcher at the South Korean Institute of Science and Technology Policy, said that the missile may explode less than a minute after launch. He said that if the toxic fuel of missiles falls on civilian residential areas in North Korea, they could have a significant impact on health. North Korea did not immediately receive external reports of such losses.

The US Indo Pacific Command later stated that North Korea launched a ballistic missile, but did not specify whether it was a launch failure. A command statement stated that the launch did not pose a direct threat to US territory and its allies, but called on North Korea not to take further destabilizing actions.JapanChief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters that the flight of the ballistic missile has not been confirmed yet, and Tokyo is working with Washington and Seoul to further analyze what happened.

On Wednesday, March 16, 2022, a US Air Force U-2 spy plane was preparing to land at the Wushan US Air Force Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. expertIt is said that past failures have brought North Korea closer to its goal of obtaining a feasible nuclear arsenal that could threaten the United States mainland. Among the eight "Musudan" intermediate range missile test launches in 2016, only one was considered successful by external analysts, sparking debate about whether North Korea's path to developing intercontinental ballistic missiles has been cut off.

However, in 2017, North Korea flew more powerful intermediate range missiles over Japan and successfully conducted three intercontinental ballistic missile test flights, indicating its potential to penetrate deep into the United States mainland.North Korea's successful satellite launches in 2012 and 2016- seen by the United Nations as a disguised test of its long-range missile technology - have also repeatedly failed.

The US and South Korean military stated last week that,North KoreaIn the last two launches, intercontinental ballistic missile systems were tested, referring to North Korea's largest weapon, the developing Hwasong-17 missile, which was unveiled during a military parade in October 2020.

In the two recent launches on February 27th and March 5th, North Korean missiles flew medium range, and experts suggest that North Korea may have tested the first stage rocket of the Hwasong-17 missile. It is currently unclear whether Wednesday's launch also involved some Hwasong-17.

After the first two launches, North Korea stated that it had conducted testsA spy satellite has been launchedThe camera and other systems were used, and photos taken from space during one of the two tests were released, but it was not confirmed what rocket or missile was launched.

Observers say that North Korea's goal is to enhance its intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities while attempting to launch its first functioning spy satellite into orbit. North Korean leader Kim Jong un has vowed to acquire improved intercontinental ballistic missiles and spy satellites in a series of cutting-edge weapon systems, stating that North Korea needs to respond to what he calls American hostility.

Earlier on Wednesday, the North Korean state news agency released a photo of Kim Jong un smiling as he visited a towering apartment building under construction in the suburbs of Pyongyang, wearing a black long leather coat. The news agency did not say when Kim Jong un was there, but usually reports on his public activities one or two days after they occur.

Hwasong-17 may fly 15000 kilometers (9320 miles), enough to strike anywhere in the United States and other regions. This 25 meter (82 foot) missile was unveiled again at a defense exhibition in Pyongyang last year and has not yet been test fired.

The three intercontinental missiles tested by North Korea in 2017 were Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-15. Some analysts say that developing larger missiles may mean that the country is attempting to arm its long-range weapons with multiple warheads to overcome missile defense systems.If North Korea launches a new intercontinental ballistic missile, it will be its most notable weapon test since its third and final intercontinental ballistic missile launch in November 2017.

North Korea may refer to its potential new intercontinental ballistic missile test as a rocket launch to place reconnaissance satellites in space, rather than a weapon test. Some analysts say that this may attract condemnation, but it may not face new sanctions from the United Nations becauseRussiaandChinaHaving veto power in the Security Council and opposing it.

Most of the other North Korean missiles tested this year are short-range, nuclear capable weapons, which puts South Korea and Japan, two major allies of the United States, within attack range. In January alone, North Korea conducted seven rounds of missile tests, setting a record for monthly tests since Kim Jong un came to power at the end of 2011.

The US led diplomacy aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear program collapsed in 2019 due to the debate over US led sanctions against North Korea. Washington has urged North Korea to return to negotiations without any preconditions, but Pyongyang has rejected such proposals, stating that the United States must first withdraw its hostile policies.

In January of this year, North Korea hinted at lifting its four-year ban on intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear tests. The South Korean Ministry of National Defense announced on Friday that it has found indications that North Korea may be repairing some tunnels at its nuclear test site, which were detonated before the current dormant nuclear diplomacy.