North Korea's tactical ballistic missile equipped with a new automatic navigation system was test-launched into the country's Eastern Sea, May 17, 2024. (Photo: KCNA/VNA)

Japan's J-Alert early warning system initially reported that North Korea had fired a missile, suspected to be a ballistic missile. Japan later removed the warning for people in Okinawa prefecture after confirming that the missile did not reach Japanese territory.

North Korea confirmed on Monday that the launch of a reconnaissance satellite had failed. The North Korean National Aerospace Administration (NATA) said a booster rocket carrying the Malligyong-1-1 reconnaissance satellite was launched from the Sohae Satellite Launch Site in Cholsan district, North Pyongan province, but the  booster exploded shortly after leaving the launch pad.

The US asked North Korea on Monday not to conduct any more rocket or satellite launches and urged them to return to dialogue, after Pyongyang informed Japan of its plan to launch a rocket to send a satellite into orbit before June 4.