North Korea test-fires two more missiles with technology reportedly hard to detect
North Korea has conducted their fourth missile launch in two weeks; Greg Palkot reports on the details.
North Korea said Tuesday that dictator Kim Jong Un supervised the latest live-fire demonstration of newly-developed short-range ballistic missiles, which Kim said was meant to send an "adequate warning" to the United States and South Korea over their joint military drills.
The bulletin from the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) came one day after South Korea's military detected North Korea firing two projectiles into the sea.
NORTH KOREA FIRES TWO MISSILES INTO SEA TO KEEP PRESSURE ON WASHINGTON
A U.S. official told Fox News Monday that North Korea had launched two short-range ballistic missiles from its west coast that flew over the rogue nation before splashing down into the Sea of Japan. KCNA claimed the missiles accurately hit an island target off North Korea's eastern coast.
The most recent launches were the regime’s fourth round of missile tests in less than two weeks and came minutes before the North's Foreign Ministry denounced Washington and Seoul over the start of their joint exercises on Monday. The ministry's statement said the drills, which North Korea sees as an invasion rehearsal, leave the country "compelled to develop, test and deploy the powerful physical means essential for national defense."
The launches also came amid a standstill in nuclear negotiations and after President Trump repeatedly dismissed the significance of the country's recent tests despite the threat the weapons pose to allies South Korea and Japan and to U.S. bases there.
NORTH KOREA LAUNCHES FIRST MISSILE TESTS SINCE HISTORIC TRUMP-KIM MEETING AT THE DMZ
The foreign ministry statement said Pyongyang remains committed to dialogue, but it may look for a “new road” if Washington and Seoul don’t change their positions.
People watch a TV showing a file image of a North Korea's missile launch at the Seoul Railway Station Tuesday. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Military experts claim the new North Korean weapons considerably improve the regime’s military capabilities to strike targets across South Korea and warn Pyongyang's testing activity could escalate if progress isn't made on nuclear negotiations with the U.S.
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Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectiles traveled about 279 miles on an apogee of 23 miles at a maximum speed of above Mach 6.9 before landing in waters off the country's eastern coast.
It said the projectiles showed similar flight characteristics to short-range missiles North Korea fired on July 25, which traveled about 373 miles during launches the North described a "solemn warning" to South Korea over its plans to continue military drills with the United States.
Fox News’ Lucas Tomlinson, Lukas Mikelionis and The Associated Press contributed to this report.