The United States has told Japan that the Taepodong-2 missile fired July 5 by North Korea exploded in midair within 1.5 km of the launchpad, not 400 to 600 km away as the Japanese government had initially estimated, sources said Saturday.
Japan had earlier estimated the missile reached well into the Sea of Japan.
According to the sources, U.S. satellite information suggests the Taepodong-2 exploded in midair above a northeastern region of North Korea or over its territorial waters on the rim of the Sea of Japan about 40 seconds after being fired at 4:59 a.m.