North Korea fires an unidentified short-range missile
North Korea has fired several short-range missiles from its east coast, South Korea’s military said, the first missile launch since 2017 as it steps up pressure against the US after a failed nuclear summit.
The North fired an unidentified short-range missile from the city of Wonsan around 9am, South Korea’s Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
The Office said it was conducting joint analysis with the US.
Several missiles flew 70km to 200km.
The launch is the first since the North fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in November 2017, before declaring the construction of its nuclear force complete and extending an international olive branch.
Leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to cease testing nuclear weapons or ICBMs, but the North has conducted other weapons tests.
The missile firing, coming after the North’s test of what it called a tactical weapons system, added to the pressure it has exerted on Washington in talks on ending the North’s nuclear program.
“It also seems clear that North Korea is angry over what appears to be a lack of flexibility in the Trump administration’s position on relieving sanctions, sticking to a policy of ‘maximum pressure’,” said Harry Kazianis at the Centre for the National Interest, a US think tank.
Kim has held two summits with President Donald Trump, the second in February in Vietnam, but failed to make progress on ending the North’s nuclear program due to disagreement on dismantlement and sanctions relief.
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