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 The failed launch, as the reclusive country celebrates the "Day of
the Sun" on the birthday of Kim's grandfather, follows the North's
fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch in
February, which led to new U.N. sanctions.
But the North has nevertheless pushed ahead with its missile
program, supervised by Kim, in breach of U.N. Security Council
resolutions.
The U.S.-based 38 North website, which specializes in North Korea,
said there has been activity at the country's nuclear site based on
satellite imagery and on Wednesday said the possibility of a fifth
nuclear test "could not be ruled out".
China, North Korea's most important economic and diplomatic backer,
has been angered by Pyongyang's nuclear tests and rocket launches in
the face of U.N. sanctions that China has also backed.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the U.N. Security
Council was clear on North Korean rocket launches.
 "At present, the situation on the peninsula is complex and
sensitive," he told reporters. "We hope all parties can strictly
respect the decisions of the Security Council and avoid taking any
steps that could further worsen tensions."
Chinese state media was more direct.
"The firing of a mid-range ballistic missile on Friday by the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), though failed, marks
the latest in a string of saber-rattling that, if unchecked, will
lead the country to nowhere," China's official Xinhua news agency
said in an English language commentary.
"...Nuclear weapons will not make Pyongyang safer. On the contrary,
its costly military endeavors will keep on suffocating its economy."
Friday is the anniversary of North Korean founding president Kim Il
Sung's birthday which is widely celebrated. In 2012, it was marked
by a long-range rocket launch attempt which also failed.
FULFILL YOUR OBLIGATIONS, U.S. TELLS NORTH
The U.S. Defense Department said in a statement the launch at 0533
Korea time (2033 GMT Thursday) was detected and tracked by the U.S.
Strategic Command which also assessed it had failed.
"We call again on North Korea to refrain from actions and rhetoric
that further raise tensions in the region and focus instead on
taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its international
commitments and obligations," a U.S. State Department official said.
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It was likely a Musudan, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said, an
intermediate-range ballistic missile with a design range of more
than 3,000 km (1,800 miles) that can be fired from a road mobile
launcher but which has never been flight-tested.
The United States, which has 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea,
said on Thursday it was aware of reports that North Korea was
preparing to test intermediate-range missiles and was closely
monitoring the Korean peninsula.
"Timing wise, today's missile was a cannon salute on the Day of the
Sun, leading up to the party congress, but now that it has failed,
it is an embarrassment," said Chang Gwang-il, a retired South Korean
army general.
The North is scheduled to hold its ruling party congress in early
May, the first such meeting in 36 years.
The North could not completely ignore the sanctions, but considered
it the right time to attempt a missile launch to send a message to
the world "we don't surrender to sanctions", Chang said.
Some experts had said North Korea may choose to test-fire the
Musudan as it tries to build an intercontinental ballistic missile
designed to put the mainland United States within range.
North Korea, which regularly threatens to destroy South Korea and
the United States, often fires missiles during periods of tension in
the region or when it comes under pressure to curb its defiance and
abandon its weapons programs.
The North and rich, democratic South are technically still at war
since their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.
(Additional reporting by James Pearson in Seoul and David Brunnstrom
in Washington, Editing by Nick Macfie)
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