North Korea fires missile after US bombers conduct drills in area

Reuters quoted the South Korean military as saying that North Korea launched at least two short-range ballistic missiles from the Sunan area into the sea east of the Korean peninsula.

Triều Tiên phóng tên lửa sau khi máy bay ném bom Mỹ tập trận tại khu vực - Ảnh 1. — A previous North Korean missile launch

Japan's Defense Ministry also announced that at least one missile was launched. Japanese media reported that the missiles landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The South Korean military said it has stepped up surveillance and vigilance to guard against further provocations, while maintaining a readiness posture through close cooperation with the United States.

The launch came just before the US and South Korea wrapped up 11 days of joint military exercises that North Korea has condemned. On August 30, US B-1B strategic bombers also conducted separate exercises with South Korean and Japanese aircraft.

North Korea’s ballistic missile launch is considered a violation of a United Nations Security Council resolution. In a statement on August 30, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressed concern about the possibility that arms negotiations between North Korea and Russia are actively being promoted, according to Reuters.

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Kirby said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu recently visited North Korea to try to persuade it to sell artillery shells to Russia. The U.S. official stressed that any such deal would violate sanctions. Russia and North Korea did not immediately comment on Kirby’s report.

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