Seoul, Oct 16 (IANS): North Korea had test-launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile, but it ended in a failure, South Korea's military said on Sunday.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement that North Korea fired what is believed to be a Musudan missile at 12.33 p.m. on Saturday near an airport in North Pyongan province, Xinhua news agency reported.

The test-launch, the JCS said, failed as the missile exploded soon after its lift-off.

The failed launch came on the day that the US and South Korea wrapped up their joint naval exercises that had started on Monday in all of the three seas around South Korea.

The US military mobilised its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan to participate in the week-long drill, which also involved seven American warships and some 40 South Korean battleships as well as fighter jets, maritime patrol airplanes and helicopters.

On June 22, Pyongyang launched a Musudan medium-range missile, flying some 400 km after reaching as high as 1,413.6 km.

It was seen as a considerable technological advance and the first success by North Korea after several failures.