US says North Korea fires ‘failed’ missiles

Two of the missiles failed in flight while another blew up immediately

FILE - In this March 10, 2016, file photo, a TV screen shows a file footage of the missile launch conducted by North Korea, at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea. Three North Korea short range ballistic missiles failed on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, a temporary blow to Pyongyang's rapid nuclear and missile expansion, U.S. military officials said. The U.S. Pacific Command said in a statement that two of the North's missiles failed in flight after an unspecified distance, and another appeared to have blown up immediately. It added that the missile posed no threat to the U.S. territory of Guam, which the North had previously warned it would fire missiles toward. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

North Korea fired three missiles, which the United States said all failed. Ahn Young-joon/ AP Photo

Aug 26, 2017

The United States has said that three short range ballistic missiles filed by North Korea on Saturday have failed.

Two of the missiles launched by Pyongyang failed in flight, while the other blew up immediately, according to the US Pacific command.

"The first and third missiles at 11:49am and 12:19pm failed in flight. The second missile launch at 12:07pm appears to have blown up almost immediately," Pacific Command said, using times at its Hawaii-based headquarters.

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This is the latest development in escalating tensions between North Korea and the US, which have been simmering for months.

In July, the North Korea successfully tested to ballistic missiles that, it said, were capable of reaching the US mainland.

Earlier this month, North Korea said it was ready to send missiles towards the US territory of Guam in the Pacific Ocean following comments from President Donald Trump that if Pyongyang made any more threats they would be met with “fire and fury like the world has never seen”.

The US is currently in the middle of its annual joint military exercise with South Korea, that the North has called an invasion rehearsal.

Kim Jong Un, the North Korean dictator, inspected a special operation forces training of the army which simulated attacks on South Korean islands, according to state media in Pyongyang.

Kim reportedly told troops they "should think of mercilessly wiping out the enemy with arms only and occupying Seoul at one go and the southern half of Korea."