North Korea destroyed a missile mid-flight during a test fire after they realised it was aimed at Russia, reports South Korean media.
The Seoul Economy Daily claims that the missile managed around 30 miles before fears that it had accidentally been fired towards Russia developed.
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The paper said: "If the ballistic missile that flew to the northeastern region had not failed, it would have been heading to a harbour point or a Russian territory.
"It is for this reason that North Korea intentionally destroyed the missile."
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The KN-17 device crashed down on an inland part of North Korea.
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They tested the missile despite repeated warnings from America that persistent nuclear and rocket trials could lead to 'catastrophic consequences'.
The Mail quoted a source which said that the launch target was 'different from the previous direction' and that 'in the past, we fired 89-90 degrees to the east, and the projectile fell off the East Sea. But the angle of this shot was 49 degrees'.
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As a result, Russian chairman of defence and security, Victor Ozerov, says that the country's air defences have been put on 'high alert'. He said: "We control the airspace in the zone of responsibility of the Russian air forces."
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Meanwhile, China have 'expressed concerns' regarding a US missile defence system which is taking place in South Korea in response to North Korea's missile tests, reports Yahoo!.
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Apparently, the country has said that the US could use the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to spy on North Korea, but America has persevered with military precautions.
Last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said: "We will resolutely take necessary measures to defend our interests."
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Sources: Daily Mail & Yahoo
Featured Image Credit: PA ImagesTopics: Russia, Kim Jong Un, North Korea