Rocket launch in South Korea sparks UFO scare after snaking red trail detected in sky

People in South Korea had spotted a white and red vapor trail snaking behind a bright white light in the sky and feared it was a 'an attack from North Korea or a UFO

A photo of the tested rocket that caused public fear in South Korea (

Image: Ahn Young-joon/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Hundreds of people called the police in South Korea after fearing that a rocket fired by the military was a UFO or a North Korean missile attack.

The South Korean Defense Ministry had kept the launch a secret, but after public scare, it explained that it was testing a solid-fuel rocket.

The rocket was part of the military's efforts to build a space-based surveillance capability and bolster its defenses, he said.

The ministry said it did not notify the general public of the launch in advance because it involved sensitive military security issues.

A white and red vapor trail could be seen snaking behind bright white light in parts of South Korea's sky.

The solid-fuel rocket was tested by the South Korean military (

Picture:

AFP/Getty Images)

South Korean social media and websites were abuzz with posts from citizens who reported seeing a hovering object, rainbow-colored vapor trail or other mysterious lights . Some also posted photos and videos.

South Korean emergency offices and police have received hundreds of reports from citizens of a suspicious flying object and mysterious lights across the country, according to local media.

The rocket launch came four days after the South accused the North of flying five drones across the rivals' border for the first time in five years.

His army detected the drones but failed to shoot them down...