North Korea has failed in its first attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit. On Wednesday, a North Korean rocket crashed into the sea west of South Korea after its second stage reportedly lost thrust. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong-un, said afterward North Korea would attempt more satellite launches. The rocket’s launch triggered air raid sirens in South Korea and Japan. In Seoul, a “presidential alert” sent to all mobile phones warned 10 million citizens to prepare to evacuate, triggering panic. Seoul’s mayor later defended the alert.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon: “This emergency message could be a working-level official’s overreaction, but it was not a mistake. Our principle is to respond in a manner that can be seen as excessive, and there can be no compromise on safety.”