Out to launch
Kim oversaw rocket test: NoKo
North Korea announced on Sunday that Kim Jong-un had personally supervised the country’s launch of two new missiles the day before.
The reclusive regime on Saturday test-fired two short-range missiles that flew about 250 miles before crashing into the sea between North Korea and Japan — its fifth launch in the past two weeks.
Kim “expressed great satisfaction” after overseeing the launch, staterun media said on Sunday.
The Hermit Kingdom’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, published photos of the despot watching with other military officials from what appeared to be an observation post.
The launches were seen as a protest against joint military exercises by the United States and South Korea that Kim’s regime considers a rehearsal for an invasion.
North Korea’s claim came after President Trump said he had received a letter from Kim apologizing for recent rocket tests and offering to resume nuclear talks.
Trump said on Friday that he received a “beautiful letter” from Kim.
“It was a very positive letter,” Trump said. “I think we’ll have another meeting. He really wrote a beautiful, three-page — I mean, right from top to bottom — a really beautiful letter.”
North Korea launched the missiles shortly after.
On Saturday morning, Trump tweeted that Kim’s letter stated a desire to begin negotiations once the military drills concluded and included a “small apology for testing the short range missiles” and a vow “that this testing would stop when the exercises end.”
Talks between Pyongyang and Washington have stalled since Trump’s impromptu summit with Kim in June on the border between the Koreas.