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North Korea’s state-run Rodong Sinmun reported on April 19 that leader Kim Jong-un gave on-site guidance at the National Aerospace Development Administration on April 18, where he ordered final preparations for the launch of the nation’s first military reconnaissance satellite on a planned date. (KCNA/Yonhap)

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff announced Wednesday that the South Korean military had “detected a ‘space launch vehicle claimed by North Korea’ launched toward the south from the Tongchang village area in North Korea’s North Pyongan Province at 0629 hours this morning.”

The Joint Chiefs explained that the launch vehicle in question “passed through the air in the distant sea to the west of Baengnyeong Island,” adding that the South Korean military was “determining whether this was a normal flight.”

“The South Korean military has upgraded its alertness posture and is maintaining a full readiness posture amid close coordination with the US,” it added.

The South Korean military said the vehicle “disappeared from radar before reaching its anticipated impact site.” It is currently examining the possibility that the vehicle crashed or exploded in midair.

The presidential office said it planned to “hold a security situation review meeting shortly” and would “decide on whether to hold a National Security Council meeting as needed.”

Meanwhile, the city of Seoul sent an announcement to residents at 6:32 am on Wednesday informing them of an “alert in effect for the Seoul region.”

“Residents should make preparations for an evacuation, and we ask that children, senior citizens, and those with infirmities be allowed to evacuate first,” it wrote.

At 6:41 am, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety sent another message informing residents that the “alert by the city of Seoul was issued mistakenly.”

By Shin Hyeong-cheol, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]