Report: North Korea fires missile but test may have failed

April 4 (UPI) -- North Korea test-launched a ballistic missile early Wednesday, local time, but the test appears to have failed.

Seoul's joint chiefs of staff said on Wednesday morning North Korea launched a projectile into the East Sea, or the Sea of Japan, from the port city of Sinpo.

It is North Korea's first launch in 14 days, Yonhap reported.

Seoul did not disclose information on the type of projectile that was fired on Wednesday, or the distance that it flew.

On television, Yonhap reported the missile test might have ended in failure, because it did not cover a significant distance after launch.

The launch took place at around 6:40 a.m.

Sinpo is the port location often associated with North Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missiles, but it is unlikely the projectile was an SLBM because it was fired from land.

The launch of a mid-range Musudan ballistic missile on March 22 also ended in failure, and North Korea previously fired four modified Scud missile from a launch area in Tongchang-ri on March 6.

North Korea may have timed the tests to coincide with an upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to Yonhap.

The summit is to take place in the United States Thursday and Friday, and North Korea is expected to be a priority issue when the two leaders meet at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.