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WORLD NEWS Friday 10 May 2019

N. Korea fires 2 suspected missiles in possible new warning

By KIM TONG-HYUNG the United States and Ja-
HYUNG-JIN KIM pan met in Seoul to dis-
FOSTER KLUG cuss North Korea's earlier
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — launches on Saturday and
North Korea fired two sus- other security issues. Details
pected short-range missiles from the meeting weren't
toward the sea on Thurs- immediately announced.
day, South Korean officials Experts who analyzed pho-
said, its second weapons tos from North Korean state
launch in five days and a media say it's clear that the
possible warning that nu- North tested a new solid-
clear disarmament talks fuel missile on Saturday
with Washington could be that appears to be mod-
in danger. eled after Russia's Iskander
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of short-range ballistic missile
Staff said the weapons flew system.
420 kilometers (260 miles) With the consecutive
and 270 kilometers (167 weapons launches, North
miles), respectively. It said Korea is pressuring South
it is working with the United Korea to turn away from
States to determine more the United States and sup-
details, such as the types of port North Korea's position
weapons that were fired. People watch a TV showing file footage of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at more strongly, said Du Hy-
South Korea's military said the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, May 9, 2019. eogn Cha, a visiting schol-
earlier that at least one pro- Associated Press ar at Seoul's Asan Institute
jectile was launched from for Policy Studies. Following
the Sino-ri area of North phen Biegun visits South create various interpreta- signal that North Korea is the collapse of the Trump-
Pyongan province, an area Korea, and hours after the tions of its intent, raise con- turning away from diplo- Kim meeting, North Korea
known to have one of North North described its firing of cern and risk throwing cold macy. demanded that South Ko-
Korea's oldest missile bases rocket artillery and an ap- water on the atmosphere The tensions in 2017 were rea proceed with joint eco-
where a brigade operates parent short-range ballistic of dialogue and negotia- followed by a surprising dip- nomic projects that have
mid-range Rodong missiles. missile on Saturday as a tions," said Moon, a liberal lomatic outreach by North been held back by U.S.-led
It later said there were two regular and defensive mili- who facilitated contacts Korea in 2018, when Kim sanctions against the North.
launches from the nearby tary exercise. North Korea between the U.S. and North attended summits with the By firing weapons that di-
town of Kusong, where also ridiculed South Korea Korea last year. South Korean and Chinese rectly threaten South Korea
North Korea conducted its for criticizing those launch- Moon's office earlier said presidents and with Trump. but not the U.S. mainland or
first successful flight tests of es. the North Korean launch- But North Korea has not re- its Pacific territories, North
its Hwasong-12 intermedi- South Korean President es were "very concerning" ceived what it wants most Korea also appears to be
ate-range missile and Hwa- Moon Jae-in urged North and detrimental to efforts from its summitry: relief from testing how far Washing-
song-14 intercontinental Korea to refrain from ac- to improve inter-Korean ties punitive sanctions imposed ton will tolerate its bellicos-
ballistic missile, both in 2017. tions that could impede and ease military tensions over its nuclear and missile ity without actually causing
Kusong is also home to mis- diplomacy. In an interview on the Korean Peninsula. programs. the nuclear negotiations to
sile test facilities that were with the KBS television net- There was no immediate A summit earlier this year collapse, Cha said.
critical to the development work, Moon also said Seoul comment from the United between Trump and Kim "To the United States, the
of North Korea's solid-fuel will explore various options States. ended in failure, with the North is saying 'don't push
Pukguksong-2, which was to help revive the talks, in- Some analysts have said United States saying that me into a corner.' To South
successfully flight-tested cluding providing food aid that if North Korea resumes North Korea was not offer- Korea, the North is saying
for the first time in February to the North and pushing testing the kind of longer- ing to take enough disar- the inter-Korean peace
2017, in the North's first mis- for his fourth summit with range banned ballistic mament steps in return for agreements could be-
sile test after President Don- North Korean leader Kim weapons that it fired in un- the widespread sanctions come nothing if Seoul fails
ald Trump took office. Jong Un. usually large numbers in relief it sought. to coax major concessions
The latest launches came "I want to tell North Korea 2017 — when many feared Just ahead of the Thursday from the United States on
as U.S. Special Represen- once again that it's not a U.S.-North Korea standoff launch, senior defense of- behalf of the North," Cha
tative for North Korea Ste- ideal to repeat actions that could end in war — it may ficials from South Korea, said.q