South Korean ballistic missile malfunctions

The Hyunmoo-2 missile crashed into the ground Wednesday during a live-fire drill. The subsequent fire from the crash caused residents in the nearby city of Gangneung to panic. South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff officials said no injuries were reported and the missile’s warhead didn’t explode. Burning rocket fuel caused the fire.

What sort of live-fire drills were these? The South Korean military, alongside U.S. forces, held joint exercises to show their ability to deter a North Korean invasion. Footage released by the South Korean Defense Ministry showed fighter planes practicing bombing runs offshore Tuesday.

Dig deeper: Listen to my report on The World and Everything in It podcast about how North Korea’s missile tests are an attempt to get concessions from the United States.