PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA — North Korea's birthday celebrations for Kim Il Sung turned sour when the pariah state tried unsuccessfully to launch a ballistic missile.

The failed launch was detected and tracked by the U.S. Strategic Command on Thursday, U.S. Defense Department officials said, according to Reuters.

The news is a setback for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as the reclusive nation today marks the 104th anniversary of his grandfather's birth. Kim Il Sung ruled North Korea for 46 years before his death in 1994.

The missile that failed to launch was most likely a Musudan, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing military sources.

The Musudan, also known as the Mirim, No Dong B, and BM-25, is an intermediate-range ballistic missile. Based on a Russian R-27-Zyb, it can carry an estimated payload of 1.2 tons in a single warhead.

The Musudan has an estimated range of 2,500 km to 4,000 km, meaning it could strike South Korea, Japan, Alaska or U.S. military bases in the Pacific Ocean, such as on Guam.

Thursday's unsuccessful launch was the first time North Korea has tested the Musudan, Yonhap reported.

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