The North fired two short-range missiles Thursday that flew more than 260 miles and 167 miles, respectively, across the country from a northwestern area. It was the second missile test in less than a week.
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said Friday that a “long-range” strike drill ordered by leader Kim Jong Un the day before was successful as concerns rose that nuclear talks with the communist state were in jeopardy.
The North fired two short-range missiles that flew more than 260 miles and 167 miles, respectively, across the country from a northwestern area, according to South Korea’s military.
It was the second missile test in less than a week, threatening to raise tensions as negotiations aimed at persuading the North to give up its nuclear weapons have stalled.
President Donald Trump noted the missiles were short-range but expressed concern.
“We’re looking at it very seriously right now,” he told reporters Thursday at the White House. “Nobody’s happy about it.”
“The relationship continues, but we’ll see what happens,” he added. “I know they want to negotiate. They’re talking about negotiating, but I don’t think they’re ready to negotiate.”
The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency didn’t give details about the weapons involved and was devoid of the bellicose rhetoric used in past reports.
Kim gave the order to start the “strike drill of various long-range strike means,” according to KCNA.
“The successful drill… showed the might of the units which were fully prepared to proficiently carry out any operations and combat,” it said.
