SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea's minister of state security, Ri Chang Dae, left Pyongyang on Monday to attend a meeting of senior security officials in Russia, the North's KCNA state news agency reported on Tuesday.

After a bungled launch, the vessel appears to be stuck and lying on its side in the water. North Korea said it was a 5,000-ton destroyer.

South Korea's liberal presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung said on Monday he would pursue the restoration of communication between Seoul and North Korea, including via a military hotline if elected.