/North Korea launches projectiles into Sea of Japan

North Korea launches projectiles into Sea of Japan

South Korea confirmed the launches Wednesday.

The launch was confirmed to ABC News by the South Korean joint chiefs of staff.

“North Korea this morning fired two unidentified projectiles into the East Sea from South Hamkyung Province,” the South Korea government said in a statement. “South Korea and US intelligence are analyzing for any additional information.”

“While our military has strengthened awareness and monitoring, ROK-US [officials] are closely working together and maintaining readiness,” it added.

It’s not clear what type of projectiles were launched, or the distances they traveled. The projectiles were launched into the Sea of Japan, South Korean officials said.

North Korea also fired two short-range missiles sometime Saturday and Sunday, though the launches were not reported by the U.S. until Tuesday.

Biden administration officials downplayed the missile launches from over the weekend.

“We see this action in the category of normal activity,” a senior administration official told reporters.

The launches over the weekend were the first since President Joe Biden moved into the White House. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited South Korea last week to discuss the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

The previous administration had a fraught relationship with North Korea. Former President Donald Trump held multiple meetings with dictator Kim Jong Un during his time in office, the first president to do so.

Kim has not carried out any long-range missile tests since Trump met with him in 2018, though it did restart smaller missile tests under the Trump administration.

Original Source