NORTH Korea’s latest nuclear test missile exploded five seconds after launch yesterday because of an American cyber attack, experts believe.

They say US agents may have infected the hi-tech electronics in tyrant Kim Jong-un’s rocket with an undetectable virus that caused a massive malfunction.

28 North Korea's military arsenal was paraded through Pyongyang in a military show of strength. The KN-08 missile is pictured Credit: Reuters

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North Korea fired the missile in defiance of President Trump sending a naval task force to the region.

Tyrant Kim Jong-un ordered the provocative launch from near the port city of Sinpo yesterday.

It exploded 4-5 seconds after take-off, humiliating the North Korean despot in the eyes of the world.

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28 President Trump has sent a naval task force to the region Credit: AP:Associated Press

28 Dictator Kim watched on smiling as his military marched past Credit: AP:Associated Press

28 The dictatorship is now trying to fit a nuclear warhead to ballistic missiles Credit: AP:Associated Press

28 The two nations are on 'the brink of war' China has warned Credit: Reuters

28 The US fears North Korea's bid to build a nuclear missile arsenal Credit: Getty Images

28 Relations between the two countries are now at an all-time low Credit: AP:Associated Press

28 Thousands of North Korean women took part in the spectacle Credit: AP:Associated Press

28 How Don made Jong's Nodong go wrong

Experts later said it was possible the medium-range ballistic rocket, thought to be a Nodong, was brought down by a US cyber attack.

North Korea is forced to import the high-tech electronics used in its missiles.

US agents are believed to have infiltrated the supply chain and may have planted undetectable “malware” viruses inside Kim’s missiles.

As soon as a launch was detected, a signal could have been delivered to the infected component via satellite from the US National Security Agency headquarters in Maryland.

Defence analyst Paul Beaver said: “It is perfectly feasible the US brought down this missile.

“Their cyber warfare capabilities are now highly advanced.

“As soon as military satellites watching Sinpo detected an imminent launch, a team at the National Security Agency would have got to work.

28 The blast radius of the missiles and their nuclear capability

28 Tanks rolled down Pyongyang's main square named after Kim Il-Sung Credit: EPA

28 The arrival of Kim saw thousands rise to their feet and salute Credit: AP:Associated Press

28 The vast majority of the country's top brass were in attendance Credit: Reuters

“It’s possible for them to have sent a signal directly to the missile from Maryland which effectively zapped it out of the sky.

“North Korea has had a string of launch failures and it may be no coincidence that they have happened as the US went to cyber war.”

Mr Trump, who in recent days launched cruise missile attacks on Syria and a huge bomb strike against ISIS in Afghanistan, was uncharacteristically silent following Kim’s missile flop.

Yesterday’s debacle came a day after grinning Kim showed off missiles and military hardware and thousands of goose-stepping troops at a vast military parade in his capital Pyongyang.

The humiliation could end up costing North Korea’s military commanders dearly.

Kim has a history of punishing failure with terrible retribution, including executing his own officials with anti-aircraft guns.

Kim has also killed hundreds of aides, including his uncle, for disloyalty.

North Korea’s military programme has been dogged by a series of malfunctions and technical failures that have ­coincided with the US stepping up its cyber war capabilities since 2014.

28 Thousands of fanatical civilians and dancers took part in the parade Credit: Getty Images

28 They marched past the giant statues of Kim's father and grandfather - Kim Jong-Il and Kim Il-Sung Credit: Reuters

28 Many dancers were clad in red - the national colour Credit: Reuters

United States Cyber Command, known as Cybercom, was given a huge funding increase to create 27 “Combat Mission Teams” to attack enemy computers.

Other medium-range North Korean rockets crashed and burned earlier this month and in March.

Last year a Musudan missile fired to mark the anniversary of the birth of Kim’s grandfather Kim Il-sung blew up so soon after take-off it wrecked its launcher.

In November 2015 an attempt to launch a ballistic missile from a submarine ended in failure when the weapon disintegrated under­water.

The US military said yesterday’s launch took place at around dawn but the missile “blew up almost immediately”.

The Pentagon said it was not a long-range Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) and was launched from land rather than ship or sub.

Trump’s naval task force in the region, led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, is equipped with rockets capable of intercepting missiles but they were not deployed.

28 Kim Jong-un watches a target-striking contest by the North Korean Army Credit: Reuters

28 The North Korean army has threatened to 'pulverise' the US Credit: Reuters

28 US soldiers prepare for a military exercise near the border between South and North Korea Credit: Getty Images

28 Sir Malcolm Rifkind claims the US could have sabotaged North Korea failed missile launch Credit: Getty Images

The White House said US Vice President Mike Pence, who is in South Korea for talks about its northern neighbour’s continued aggression, was being fully briefed.

Former British Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind also speculated that the dud missile test could have been the result of a US cyber attack.

Sir Malcolm said: “It could have failed because the system is not competent enough to make it work.

“But there is a very strong belief that the US through cyber methods has been successful on several occasions in interrupting these tests and making them fail.

“If the Americans are able to do that that’s very encouraging.

“There have been previous examples when the Americans have used cyber methods.

“For example with Iran some years ago, they interrupted some of their nuclear enrichment programmes.

This will not lead to a war By Richard Kemp, retired British Army Colonel I DON’T think this will amount to anything at all. North Korea knows it cannot possibly survive an attack by them against either the US or its allies. Its dictator would not last long, so I think there is no chance that they would initiate any serious military action. The Americans are not interested in conflict with them, so they will not initiate anything. I also believe the Chinese are interested in calming the situation down. I think the actions of Trump in Syria and Afghanistan, if anything, make conflict with North Korea less likely. Both the strikes he ordered were legitimate and proportionate, and sent a message around the world that you do not mess with America anymore. They signalled that you may have been able to mess with America under Obama — but you cannot do the same with Trump or you will suffer for it. That deterrent is far more likely to prevent a conflict than provoke it. So I would say don’t worry — there will not be a conflict between the US and North Korea.

28 Kim's missile range and the size of his armed forces

28 Kim Jong-un is seen parading in front of his cheering troops Credit: Reuters

28 North Korean soldiers in camouflage paint fire at targets during an exercise Credit: Getty Images

28 Kim's soldiers parachute down in a special forces commando operation Credit: Getty Images

“There have also been quite a number of occasions when North Korean tests have failed.

“But don’t get too excited, they’ve also had quite a lot of successful tests.

“They are an advanced country when it comes to their nuclear weapons programme. That still remains a fact — a hard fact.”

Just how big is North Korean threat? Q. Does North Korea have nuclear weapons? A.It is thought to have fewer than 20 missiles and four warheads. Each has half the explosive power of US ones in Japan in WW2. Q.What is different now? A.The North has been testing missiles which could reach the US. China’s foreign minister has said “conflict could break out at any time”. Q. Could they really reach Western targets? A.Not now. But they may have the tech in two or three years. Q. Could Kim use subs to strike against Britain? A.A submarine missile launch in 2015 was a flop. Korea’s noisy, diesel subs would also be spotted too easily. Q. Is the North likely to launch a nuclear attack? A.No since most experts believe it wouldn’t survive a revenge strike by the more powerful US. Q. What happens next? A.National security advisor Lt Gen HR McMaster yesterday said the US and China are working on a range of options on North Korea. His comments were the first confirmation the powers are working together. The US could make a pre-emptive strike on North missiles.

Defence analyst Lance Gatling said North Korea is vulnerable to cyber attacks because its scientists are incapable of producing their own electronic hardware.

Mr Gatling also said it would be impossible for Kim’s weapons experts to pinpoint exactly why a test launch failed.

He said: “There are many things that can go wrong but it would be impossible to tell from outside if something had affected the internal guidance or control systems.

“It has been openly mentioned that there is a possibility that the North’s supply chain for components has been deliberately infected, and they might never know.”

28 The US has sent an aircraft carrier-led task force to the Korean peninsula Credit: AP:Associated Press

28 Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is steaming towards North Korea Credit: EPA

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