Russia defies U.S. data on location of North Korea launch

July 20 (UPI) -- Documents Russia submitted to the United Nations last week challenge U.S. claims regarding the location of a recent North Korea missile launch.

According to Russian data collected from the Voronezh radar base in Irkutsk, the Hwasong-14 was launched from Tongchang-ri in North Pyongan Province, Voice of America reported Wednesday.

The Russian documents appeared to claim the rocket was launched from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, which the Kim Jong Un regime previously used to launch an Earth-orbiting satellite in February 2016.

Moscow included a map with the document, marking the launch site at about 60 miles northwest of Pyongyang, the capital.

Both the United States and South Korea independently concluded the projectile launched on the Fourth of July was launched from a different site -- Panghyon Airbase, in the same province.

In the documents, Russia also claims the Hwasong-14 is a North Korean midrange ballistic missile, and not, as North Korea claimed, an intercontinental ballistic missile capable or reaching the U.S. mainland.

U.S. experts have said Russia's Voronezh-type radar may be flawed, and some have said Russia is making the statements for political purposes, according to VOA.

Russia's documents state the missile flight time was 14 minutes, the maximum altitude reached was 332 miles and flight distance was 317 miles.

Based on Moscow's data, the Hwasong-14 is a midrange missile that can hit targets within a 1,240-mile range.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously defended North Korea and blamed the United States for Pyongyang's weapons buildup.

Russia has also blocked a statement urging North Korea sanctions at the United Nations Security Council.