This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission.
North Korea tested on Tuesday what were believed to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast less than a week before Donald Trump is inaugurated for his second term as U.S. president, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported.
The South Korean military said it detected the launch, the North’s second missile test this year, from the Ganggye area in the North’s Jagang province, the news agency reported, citing the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, or JCS.
The missiles flew up to 250 kilometers (155 miles) before falling into the sea, Reuters cited the South Korean military as saying.
“In preparation against additional launches, our military has strengthened our monitoring and vigilance, while closely sharing information on the North Korean missile with the U.S. and Japanese sides and maintaining a full readiness posture,” the JCS said.
On Jan. 6, North Korea tested a suspected mid-range ballistic missile as out-going U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in the South Korean capital for talks.
Addressing North Korea’s development of missiles and nuclear weapons in violation of U.N. resolutions, and its hostility towards the United States and its allies including South Korea, is a top priority for all U.S. administrations.
Blinken, in his talks in Seoul with Acting President Choi Sang-mok, last week stressed an “unwavering” U.S. security commitment to South Korea and said their alliance remained “more essential than ever.”
Choi denounced the latest test, saying it was a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, Yonghap reported. He vowed a strong response based on his country’s alliance with the U.S.
Trump, who will take office on Monday, spearheaded an unprecedented diplomatic push on North Korea during his first term as president, meeting leader Kim Jong Un three times but making no progress on efforts to get him to abandon his nuclear and missile programs.
Trump raised his engagement with North Korea during his election campaign suggesting he might have an eye on reviving the effort.