On Saturday, North Korea fired three short-range ballistic missiles. U.S. military officials said the missiles failed during the flight. If true, it will be a major blow to Pyongyang’s increasing missile and nuclear expansion.
In a statement, the United States Pacific command said two of out of the three Pyongyang’s missiles failed in flight after flying in an undisclosed distance, and the other was blew immediately after launch. The statement added that the missile launch posed no serious threat to the U.S. mainland or to the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, which North Korea had previously threatened to strike, according to a report by CNN.
Latest North Korea’s missiles
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missiles were fired from Pyongyang’s eastern coast and flew a distance of about 250 kilometers, approximately 155 miles; though it did not say it failed. The statement added that they were aware that the U.S. and South Korea militaries were monitoring the missile launch.
The office of South Korea’s President in a statement said Washington and Seoul would continue with their ongoing military drills. The tests are the first since July when Pyongyang launched two successful intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) believed to be able to hit the U.S. mainland. The launch drew international condemnation from world leaders and attracted wider United Nations Security Council sanctions.
President Trump fully briefed
A statement from the White House said U.S. President Donald Trump had been briefed on the latest North Korean action. In early August, the U.S. President had threatened to unleash “fire and fury” should Pyongyang continue threatening the United States and its allies.
The two Korean foes recently saw their relationship worsen after President Trump traded war threats with North Koran leader Kim Jong-un.
Saturday’s test comes when U.S. and South Korean militaries are currently engaged in an annual war game that Pyongyang has condemned and described as a rehearsal for war.
Early in August, North Korea announced it was studying plans to launch four missiles across Japan toward the tiny Pacific island of Guam which is a U.S. territory. However, following pressure from China, North Korea’s leader Kim Jog-un said he would be delaying the plans awaiting the next line of action from the United States of America.
