Rocket for rude strike

Launch in virus crisis ‘inappropriate’

North Korea fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast yesterday — the fourth such launch this month as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic.

Two projectiles were fired eastwards from the port city of Wonsan and flew 230km into the Sea of Japan at a maximum altitude of 30km, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

“Such military action by North Korea is an extremely inappropriate act when the entire world is having difficulties due to the COVID-19 outbreak,” they added.

Tokyo’s defence ministry said the “ballistic missile-like objects” did not cross into Japanese waters or the country’s exclusive economic zone. The latest launch by Pyongyang comes as a prolonged hiatus in disarmament talks with the United States drags on.

A week ago, the nuclear-armed North fired what were believed to be two short-range ballistic missiles, describing them as a new “tactical guided weapon”.

A day later, North Korean media announced US President Donald Trump had sent a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (pictured) detailing a plan to develop ties. The report cited Mr Kim’s sister Kim Yo Jong, who warned the apparently good personal relationship of the two leaders would not be enough to foster broader relations. “In the letter, he … explained his plan to propel the relations between the DPRK and the US and expressed his intent to render co-operation in the anti-epidemic work,” she said in the statement reported by the North’s Korean Central News Agency.

A senior US administration official confirmed Mr Trump had sent a letter to Mr Kim, “consistent with his efforts to engage global leaders during the ongoing pandemic”.

North Korea, which is one of the few remaining countries in the world yet to report a case of coronavirus infection, has been continuing to refine its weapons capabilities more than a year after a summit between Mr Kim and Mr Trump broke down in Hanoi.