North Korea conducted the second test of a powerful medium-range missile on Thursday; however, both the tests have reportedly failed, according to the United States. Experts have warned that North Korea could deploy these missiles by next year if it is successful in test launches.
The US and South Korean military monitors on Wednesday reported that an intermediate-range Musudan missile exploded soon after takeoff at 6:30 Pyongyang time.
Reports state that the trial launch of the missile came just a few hours before the final US presidential debate, suggesting the challenges the next US president will have to face. North Korea has reportedly warned that if it feels threatened by the United States, it may launch a nuclear attack on the country.
The missile test was soon followed by a meeting between the US and South Korean officials, where the US secretary of state John Kerry said that if North Korea uses any nuclear weapon to attack the US soil or its allies, then the nation will be "met with an effective and overwhelming response."
Kerry also said that the US will deploy a sophisticated US missile-defence system in South Korea to counter the increasing missile threat from the Kim Jon-Un-ruled country.
"Our military strongly condemns North Korea's continued illegal provocative actions and are fully prepared for the possibilities of further provocation," the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
North Korea's missile test failed for the second time in less than a week. The nation has been attempting a successful launch of the Musudan missile which has an approximate range of between 2,500 and 4,000 kilometres. Reports state that the distance covers South Korea and Japan in the lower range and the US military bases in Guam in the upper range.
