North Korea fires 3 ballistic missiles amid virus outbreak

North Korea fired three short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea Thursday, its neighbors said, the latest in a series of weapons demonstrations this year and one that came just hours after it confirmed its first case of the coronavirus since the pandemic began.

The launches could underscore North Korea’s determination to press ahead with its efforts to expand its arsenal despite the virus outbreak to rally support behind leader Kim Jong Un.

Thursday’s launches were the North’s first weapons fired since the inauguration of new conservative South Korean President Yoon

Suk Yeol on Tuesday. North Korea has a history of rattling new governments in Seoul and Washington in an apparent bid to boost its bargaining chips in future negotiations. The North Korean nuclear threat likely will top the agenda when Yoon meets visiting U.S. President Joe Biden in Seoul next week.