The missile was likely a Musudan, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said, an
intermediate-range ballistic missile with a design range of more than 3,000 km that can be fired from a road mobile launcher but which has never been flight-tested.
According to WAM, experts believe North Korea attempted to launch an
intermediate-range ballistic missile on Friday in defiance of the UN sanctions.
The defence ministry also plans to purchase three SH-60K patrol helicopters and to add a battery for an
intermediate-range ballistic missile system, he said.
The Yonhap report quoted a source as saying North Korea does not appear to have tested the
intermediate-range ballistic missile within its own territory.
In passing, Van Riper makes mention of the Thor
intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), but neglects to point out that the missile was developed and fielded by the U.S.
Pyongyang has not conducting a nuclear or missile test since September 15 when it launched an
intermediate-range ballistic missile over northern Japan into the Pacific Ocean.
After July 4th launch, the United States conducted the successful test of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system by shooting down an
intermediate-range ballistic missile over the Pacific Ocean thus increasing tensions between United States and North Korea.
North Korea test-launched an
intermediate-range ballistic missile on Tuesday, South Korean and U.S.
He was much involved in the development, among other weapon systems, of the Polaris submarine-launched
intermediate-range ballistic missile.