S Korea rocket blows up minutes after blast-off

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SEOUL, June 10 (AFP): A South Korean rocket trying to put a satellite into orbit exploded Thursday less than three minutes after blast-off, dealing another blow to Seoul's dreams of joining Asia's space race.
Science and Technology Minister Ahn Byong-Man told reporters the Naro-I rocket was thought to have blown up 137 seconds after blast-off, the same time as ground control lost contact with it.
"The Naro appeared to have exploded in flight," Ahn said, adding that Russian and South Korean engineers were trying to determine the cause.