North and South Korea test ballistic missiles as Chinese envoy visits Seoul to restart nuclear talks

North Korea missile test
(Image credit: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

North Korea test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles into international waters between South Korea and Japan on Wednesday, and hours later, South Korea conducted its first underwater-fired ballistic missile from a 3,000-ton-class submarine. Pyongyang said Monday that it had tested two newly developed cruise missiles over the weekend, breaking a months-long hiatus from missile launches.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said North Korea's missile tests "threaten the peace and safety of Japan and the region and are absolutely outrageous." U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the launches destabilized the region but did not pose an immediate threat to "U.S. personal or territory, or to our allies." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in Seoul for talks aimed at reviving stalled nuclear talks with North Korea, downplayed the missile test, saying "other countries conduct military activities as well, not just North Korea."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.