North Korea fires three short-range ballistic missiles, says US military

North Korea has fired three short-range ballistic
missiles into the sea off its east coast, the US
military has said.
A spokesman for US Pacific Command, using times
at its Hawaii-based headquarters, initially said the
first and third missiles at 11.49am and 12.19pm had
failed in flight, but later revised its assessment to say
they flew about 155 miles (250km).
"The second missile launch at 12.07pm appears to
have blown up almost immediately," the spokesman
said.
None of the missiles, launched from near Kittaeryong
in the North, had posed a threat to either North
America or the US Pacific territory of Guam, the
spokesman added.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in response
to the launches: "The military is keeping a tight
surveillance over the North to cope with further
provocations."
The launches come as tens of thousands of South
Korean and US troops take part in joint military drills
in the South, which Pyongyang views as a highly
provocative rehearsal for an invasion of its own
territory.
The North tends to carry out test-firing of missiles or
other projectiles - including those from long-range
multiple rocket launchers - in response to the US-
South Korea joint military exercises.
The 'Ulchi Freedom Guardian' war games are a
largely computer-simulated exercise that runs for two
weeks in the South. Pyongyang threatens strong
military counter-action each year.
In recent weeks the North has threatened to fire a
salvo of missiles toward Guam, but has since backed
away from the plan and tensions have eased.
Under Mr Kim, Pyongyang has made rapid strides in
its ballistic missile technology, which it is banned
from pursuing under United Nations resolutions.
Last month, it carried out two successful
intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches,
overseen by Mr Kim and apparently bringing the US
into range for the first time.
President Donald Trump had warned he would
unleash "fire and fury" if the North continued its
provocation.

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