The US military is still assessing North Korea’s April 14 test missile launch that ended in a “catastrophic failure,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said. Speaking to reporters during a Friday briefing, Davis said the US followed the launch, which ended in a “fiery” eruption on the launch pad. The launch, one of multiple tests the country has attempted so far this year, took place in a location separate from previous launches, indicating it was a mobile missile, Davis said. South Korea’s official Yonhap News Agency stated the missile was likely a Musudan—an intermediate-range ballistic missile that can be launched from a mobile launcher.
The Pentagon wants to rapidly acquire new technology for downing hostile drones over military bases in the U.S. without endangering nearby civilians or infrastructure. However, experts maintain that engaging drones near civilian areas will always present challenges that technology alone cannot solve.