Oroville Mercury-Register

North Korea launches missile as diplomat decries US policy

- By Hyung-Jin Kim

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA » North Korea fired a shortrange missile into the sea Tuesday at nearly the same moment its U.N. diplomat was decrying the U.S.’s “hostile policy” against it, in an apparent return to its pattern of mixing weapons displays with peace overtures to wrest outside concession­s.

The launch, its third round of weapons firings this month, came only three days after North Korea repeated its offer for conditiona­l talks with South Korea. Some experts say the latest missile launch was likely meant to test how South Korea would respond as North Korea needs Seoul to persuade Washington to ease economic sanctions and make other concession­s.

In an emergency National Security Council meeting, the South Korean government expressed regret over what it called “a short-range missile launch” by the North. South Korea’s military earlier said the object fired from North Korea’s mountainou­s northern Jagang province flew toward the waters off the North’s eastern coast. Further details of the launch were being analyzed.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the launch didn’t pose an immediate threat but highlighte­d “the destabiliz­ing impact of (North Korea’s) illicit weapons program.” Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said North Korea fired “what could be a ballistic missile” and that his government stepped up its vigilance and surveillan­ce.

A ballistic missile launch would violate a U.N. Security Council ban on North Korean ballistic activities, but the council typically doesn’t impose new sanctions for launches of shortrange weapons.

The launch came after Kim Yo Jong, the influentia­l sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, reached out to Seoul twice on Friday and Saturday, saying her country was open to resuming talks and reconcilia­tory steps if conditions are met. She criticized Seoul for calling Pyongyang’s previous missile tests a provocatio­n and demanded it abandon “unfair double-dealing standards” and “hostile policies.”

 ?? LEE JIN-MAN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? A visitor uses binoculars to see the North Korean side from the unificatio­n observator­y in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday.
LEE JIN-MAN — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A visitor uses binoculars to see the North Korean side from the unificatio­n observator­y in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States