North Korea test-fires missiles

South Korea claims Pyongyang is testing arsenal in response to US military drills

A South Korean soldier takes a position during a drill earlier this week. Officials claimed today that North Korea had test-fired missiles in its eastern waters. Photograph: Shin Yeong-geun/Reuters
A South Korean soldier takes a position during a drill earlier this week. Officials claimed today that North Korea had test-fired missiles in its eastern waters. Photograph: Shin Yeong-geun/Reuters

North Korea has test-fired a pair of short-range missiles into its eastern waters in a likely response to ongoing routine US-South Korea n military drills, according to officals in South Korea.

A military official in Seoul said the North launched what appeared to be KN-02 missiles during its own drills.

North Korea routinely launches short-range missiles in an effort to improve its arsenal.

The latest test comes at a time of rising tension. Pyongyang has threatened nuclear strikes on Seoul and Washington because of the drills and recent UN sanctions over its third nuclear test.

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Analysts say Pyongyang’s threats are partly an attempt to push Washington to agree to disarmament-for-aid talks.