North Korea fired “two ballistic missiles” into the sea from off its east coast on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, per Yonyap news agency.
Why it matters: The launch came two days after Pyongyang claimed to have fired new long-range cruise missiles that it described as “a strategic weapon of great significance.”
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What’s happening: South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in its statement that it had raised its level of surveillance following the launch, as it analyzed additional details in partnership with the U.S.
The big picture: North Korea appears to be stepping up its missiles program as nuclear disarmament negotiations with the U.S. that broke down in 2019 continue to stall.
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The United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency noted last month that North Korea appeared to have resumed operations at a key nuclear reactor that’s believed to produce fuel for nuclear weapons.
Editor’s note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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