North Korea says the missile launch failed, but vows to try again soon

North Korea attempted to launch a military reconnaissance satellite early Wednesday — briefly prompting Japan to issue an emergency alert for Okinawa Prefecture — but said the missile malfunctioned, crashing into the sea shortly after launch.

The official North Korean Central News Agency reported that the new Chollima-1 rocket carrying the Maligyong-1 satellite failed after its first stage separated due to engine problems and the “unstable character of the fuel used.”

She added that the authorities would “thoroughly investigate the serious defects that were revealed in the launch of the satellite,” adding that the second attempt would come “as soon as possible.”