Leave, it's gone. What it was exactly, is still unclear. Where it ended up, however, is now known: at sea.
But let's go in order. The authorities of North Korea had announced days ago the imminent putting into orbit of their first military spy satellite. To be precise, between 31 May and 11 June.
Tonight, Seoul reported the launch of a "spacecraft." The news immediately triggered the alert, both in South Korea and Japan. Officials in Seoul sent alerts through public loudspeakers and smartphones for citizens to prepare for evacuation. Japan briefly issued a rare emergency alert for Okinawa prefecture, urging residents to take cover: the J-Alert system urged residents of the island to "immediately take refuge inside a building or underground." Both alarms were soon lifted: in the South Korean case, authorities say, as it was issued "by mistake".
What was not immediately clear is what exactly it was: whether a rocket actually intended to carry into orbit a satellite or a ballistic missile like the many others already tested by Pyongyanhg. And so where it ended up - whether in orbit or at sea. South Korean military authorities said the missile was launched from Tongchang-ri on the west coast of the north, flew over the waters at the western end of Baengnyeong Island, bordering the south, before disappearing from radar.
To dissolve the yellow in the end intervened directly North Korea.
There was a problem in the launch, they said from Pyongyang: an accident, the second stage of the rocket did not work, the new engine turned out to be unstable, in short, the missile fell into the sea. It will have to "verify the serious defect" and a second launch will be conducted "as soon as possible", they add.
Reuters
North Korean spy satellite launch