North Korea says its latest satellite launch failed

North Korea said that its latest attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit Monday had failed after it exploded mid-air during the first-stage flight due to a suspected engine problem.

The launch of the Malligyong-1-1 reconnaissance satellite "exploded in the air during the first flight and failed to launch," the country's National Aerospace Technology Administration said in a statement carried by state media, adding the "cause of the accident was the reliability of the newly developed liquid oxygen and kerosene engine."