South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed Wednesday that North Korea test-fired two short-range cruise missiles toward the West Sea last weekend, but the missiles were not ballistic, which would’ve been a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
According to South Korean military officials, North Korea is currently holding its wintertime drills, which are believed to have begun in December and usually run through the end of March.
The last time North Korea test-fired multiple short-range cruise missiles was last April that time toward the East Sea.
The South Korean military’s statement comes after the Washington Post and Reuters cited U.S. officials as confirming the launches and speculated the move was a way to pressure the Biden administration as it reviews its North Korea policy.
A missile is seen in this undated picture released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 9, 2020. KCNA via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THIS IMAGE. NO THIRD PARTY SALES. SOUTH KOREA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SOUTH KOREA.
But it’s also reported that U.S. President Joe Biden was quoted as saying the launches had little to no impact on the U.S. policy toward Pyeongyang.
Kim Yo-jong, the North Korean leader’s powerful sister, slammed the drills and sent a mild warning to Washington as top U.S. officials visited Seoul for bilateral talks last week.
Also, North Korea’s First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui confirmed the regime will continue to ignore any contact from the U.S. even from a “third country” unless Washington withdraws its hostile policies toward Pyeongyang.
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