S. Korea Says N. Korea Has Fired More Projectiles Into Sea

(Politico) ASSOCIATED PRESS 08/15/2019 10:07 PM SEOUL South Korea South Koreas military said North Korea fired more projectiles into the sea Friday to extend a recent streak of weapons tests believed to be aimed at pressuring Washington and Seoul over slow nuclear diplomacy. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said projectiles were twice launched from an area on the Norths eastern coast but didnt immediately say what the weapons were how many were launched or how far they flew. It was North Koreas sixth round of weapons launches since late July when it began stepping up its weapons demonstrations while expressing frustration over stalemated nuclear negotiations with the United States and continuance of U.S.-South Korea joint military drills that the North sees as an invasion rehearsal. South Koreas presidential office said national security adviser Chung Eui-yong was presiding over an emergency National Security Council meeting about the launches and President Moon Jae-in was being briefed on the developments. Japans Defense Ministry said the North Korean projectiles did not reach the countrys territorial waters or its exclusive economic zone. The White House said it was aware of reports of the launches and was consulting with Seoul and Tokyo. The weapons the North tested in recent weeks included a new rocket artillery system and what security analysts say are two new short-range mobile ballistic missile systems that would potentially expand the Norths ability to strike targets throughout South Korea including U.S. bases there.