North Korea tests ballistic missiles amid blocked nuclear talks

SEOUL, Sept 15 (Reuters) – North Korea fires a pair of ballistic missiles off its east coast, South Korea’s joint chief of staff said Wednesday, days after testing a long cruise missile abast.

Pyongyang has steadily developed its weapons program amid a clash over talks aimed at dismantling its nuclear and ballistic missile programs in exchange for easing U.S. sanctions. Negotiations have stalled since 2019.

The Japanese Coast Guard also said an object was fired from North Korea that could be a ballistic missile that landed outside this exclusive economic zone.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga condemned the apparent launch of the test and called it “outrageous.”

Both Suga and South Korean President Moon Jae-in convened sessions of their national security councils to discuss the releases, according to their offices.

South Korean and Chinese foreign ministers held talks in Seoul on Wednesday amid concerns over North Korea’s recent missile test and denuclearization negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington. Read more

If confirmed as a ballistic missile, the test would be North Korea’s first since March this year and a further violation of UN sanctions.

The launch came after North Korea said it had successfully tested a new long-range cruise missile last weekend, calling it “a strategic weapon of great importance.” Analysts say the missile could be the country’s first nuclear-capable weapon. Read more

Report by Hyonhee Shin; additional reports from Ritsuko Ando in Tokyo; edition of Lincoln Feast

Our standards: the principles of trust of Thomson Reuters.