Pyongyang has fired two alleged ballistic missiles: South Korea Weapons News

The North has stepped up arms tests in what appears to be a resumption of the provocation and engagement strategy.

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, and South Korea said on Thursday that Pyongyang has stepped up its nuclear weapons tests and strengthened its defenses against what it says are “enemies” of the United States. .

He announced the launch of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in a text message sent to reporters for the sixth time this month, the Yonhap news agency reported.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected a shot in and around Hamhung at around 8am (11pm GMT), Yonhap news agency reported. He did not go any further.

“Our military maintains close ties with the North Korean movements and maintains a position of readiness,” JCS said in a message to reporters.

Among the many tests this month, among others cruise missilesbanned ballistic missiles and “hypersonic“weapons, Pyongyang has also suggested restarting”all activities that are temporarily suspended“It is believed to be a reference for a moratorium on nuclear missiles and long-term testing.

The United States and South Korea have been calling for a return to denuclearization talks since US President Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump held a summit in Hanoi in 2019 after Pyongyang called for easing sanctions.

Under the leadership of Joe Biden, who took office as president last year, the U.S. has recalibrated its North Korean policy and stressed that it is ready to hold talks anywhere, anytime.

Despite Pyongyang’s provocative behavior, the Biden administration has received a more modest response than in 2017 when North Korea conducted its final nuclear test and launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Trump and Kim exchanged insults and Trump promised to respond “with fire and fury.”

“For better or worse, Biden does not show fire and rage,” said Leif-Eric Easley, an associate professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

This month’s launches have led to some recalibration punishments against individuals Russia and China have held a meeting with the UN Security Council in connection with a nuclear program blocked attempts to take further action.

“The fact that Pyongyang has violated resolutions passed unanimously by the Security Council is not just a matter of American opinion or South Korean intelligence,” Easley said. “North Korean state media have repeatedly issued details and photos of illegal missile launches and threatened to launch future nuclear missiles and long-term tests.