Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 10 March 2020
N. Korea fires weapons after threatening 'momentous' action

By HYUNG-JIN KIM "The reckless behavior of
Associated Press these countries instigated
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) by the U.S. will become a
— North Korea fired three fuse that will trigger our yet
short-range projectiles off another momentous reac-
its east coast on Monday, tion," a ministry statement
South Korea's military said, said.
two days after the North Last week, Kim Jong Un's
threatened to take "mo- younger sister leveled dia-
mentous" action to protest tribes and crude insults
outside condemnation against South Korea for crit-
over its earlier live-fire exer- icizing its earlier live-fire ex-
cises. ercises, but her statement
Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff was followed by Kim send-
said the multiple kinds of ing a letter to South Korean
projectiles fired from the President Moon Jae-in ex-
eastern coastal town of pressing condolences over
Sondok flew as far as 200 its coronavirus outbreak.
kilometers (125 miles) at a Some experts say North Ko-
maximum altitude of 50 ki- rea may intend to catch
lometers (30 miles) before South Korea off balance
landing in the waters be- before seeking help in re-
tween the Korean Penin- viving its dilapidated econ-
sula and Japan. People watch a TV showing file images of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at omy, since the U.S. has said
A JCS statement said South the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, March 9, 2020. Associated Press sanctions on North Korea
Korea expressed "strong will stay in place unless it
regret" over the launches 200 kilometers (62 to 125 not to be bound by a ma- The U.N. Security Council takes significant steps to-
that it said violate a past miles) but none landed in- jor weapons test morato- didn't issue any statement ward denuclearization.
inter-Korean agreement side Japan's exclusive eco- rium amid a deadlock in a after discussing North Ko- "The coronavirus is likely ex-
aimed at lowering military nomic zone. U.S.-led diplomacy aimed rea's March 2 drills, but five ceeding North Korea's pub-
animosities. South Korea's "North Korea's latest action, at convincing Kim to aban- European members con- lic health capacity, so Kim
national security director, on top of its repeated fir- don his nuclear program in demned what they called Jong Un is playing a two-
defense minister and spy ings of ballistic missiles, is a return for economic and "provocative actions." Bel- level game.
chief held an emergency serious threat to the peace political benefits. gium, Estonia, France, Ger- At the domestic level, his
video conference and and safety of Japan and South Korea and some Eu- many and the United King- regime claims to protect
agreed the North Korean ... a grave problem for the ropean countries protested dom said afterward that the people with drastic
action were not helpful to entire international soci- against the second North the tests undermine region- quarantine measures and
efforts to establish a peace ety," Suga said. Korea drills on March 2, al and international peace, military exercises against
on the Korean Peninsula, In the past 10 days, North which they believe involved security and stability. external threats," said
according to South Korea's Korea has said leader Kim ballistic missile launches in The North's Foreign Ministry Leif-Eric Easley, associate
presidential Blue House. Jong Un supervised two a violation of U.N. Security on Saturday accused the professor at Seoul's Ewha
Japan's Chief Cabinet Sec- rounds of live-fire artillery Council resolutions. five European countries of Womans University. "Pyong-
retary Yoshihide Suga said exercises in its first weapons North Korea insists it has the "repeating an absurd ar- yang may be seeking in-
North Korea fired suspect- tests since late November. right to conduct military gument of condemnation ternational assistance, but
ed ballistic missiles. He said Kim had entered the new drills in the face of U.S. and and violation resolutions of remains obsessed with not
the multiple North Korean year with a vow to bolster South Korean forces on its the U.N. whenever we con- appearing in an inferior po-
projectiles traveled 100 to his nuclear deterrent and doorstep. ducted military drills." sition to Seoul."q
New Malaysian leader unveils revamped Cabinet with no deputy

have no deputy prime min- formist ruling alliance. His minister including chair-
ister and instead appoint- rule has been questioned ing Cabinet meetings in
ing four senior ministers to by Mahathir and his al- my absence," he said in a
keep factions happy in his lies, who have called for a televised announcement.
Malay-majority govern- parliamentary vote to test "With these senior ministers,
ment. Muhyiddin's claim of major- there is no need for a dep-
Muhyiddin also named a ity support. uty prime minister to be ap-
banker as finance minister Muhyiddin said Monday pointed for now."
and a mufti as religious af- the appointment of four Muhyiddin left out se-
fairs minister in an unprec- senior ministers will create nior allies who have been
edented step, and ap- a Cabinet that is more ef- charged with corruption.
peared to deliver on prom- ficient and focused. That includes key leaders of
ises of a graft-free Cabinet They will coordinate issues the United Malays National
as he sought to shore up related to the economy, Organization, the party of
public support for his lead- security, infrastructure de- disgraced ex-Prime Minister
Malaysian new Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, thumbs up ership. velopment and education. Najib Razak that was oust-
during a press conference at prime minister's office in Putrajaya,
Malaysia, Monday, March 9, 2020. Muhyiddin took office a "I want to form a Cabinet ed by Mahathir's alliance in
Associated Press week ago after his party's that can provide the best 2018 polls.
defection and Prime Min- service to the people, a The conservative leader of
Associated Press Minister Muhyiddin Yas- ister Mahathir Mohamad's Cabinet that delivers. a fundamentalist Islamic
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) sin unveiled his Cabinet resignation sparked the The senior ministers will party was also not given a
— New Malaysian Prime on Monday, saying he will collapse of the former re- help me in my job as prime post.q