North Korea fires two ballistic missiles as Kim Jong-un protests massive US war-game drills in South Korea

NORTH Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has conducted his second weapons test in less than a week by firing two ballistic missiles, the South Korean military has said.

The two missiles were launched from the Wonsan area in the early hours of this morning, after Pyongyang expressed anger over planned US-South Korean military drills.

The launch was confirmed by South Korea with a statement saying: "The North's repeated missile launches are not helpful to efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and we urge (North Korea) to stop this kind of behaviour."

The short-range missiles flew 155 miles and reached a height of 19 miles before landing in the Sea of Japan.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe briefly told reporters the launches were "no threat to Japanese national security".

Japan's Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya said neither weapon reached Japan's exclusive economic zone and that officials were still analysing details, including the flight distance and trajectory.
"It is extremely regrettable that North Korea continues firing the missiles that violate the UN resolutions," Iwaya said.

The test would be yet another North Korean violation of UN Security Council resolutions and comes as the country's negotiations with America over its nuclear weapons program are at a stalemate.

Last week, North Korea conducted a similar test launch, its first since leader Kim and US President Donald Trump met last month and agreed to revive denuclearisation talks.

Military leaders in neighbouring South Korea say the surprise launch on July 24 took place in the Wonsan region in east of the rogue state.

A top South Korean official confirmed last week that a US-South Korean military exercise would go ahead as planned next month, despite Pyongyang insisting that the joint task would breach an agreement made between Trump and Jong-un.

Choi Jong-kun, secretary for peace planning, added: "The nature of the exercise is not offensive ... and is for strengthening the alliance."

He said that next month’s exercise would largely involve computer simulations and not troops in the field.

SECOND MISSILE LAUNCH IN A WEEK

North Korea's short-range projectiles travelled into the Sea of Japan - also known as the East Sea -  say reports from the troubled region.

Observers suggested the low altitude flight by the missiles indicated North Korea might have been testing their ability to avoid being intercepted.

It is the first missile test reported since President Trump and North Korean leader met at the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas at the end of June.

The White House, Pentagon and US State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

However, the joint chiefs said South Korean and US militaries were reportedly analysing details of the launches.

A US defence official said the secret launch appears to be similar to the recent May 2019 launch where two short range missiles were also launched.

"North Korea is clearly upset that the US and South Korea are conducting joint military exercises," said Harry Kazianis of Washington's Center for the National Interest.

"We should not be shocked by this move and, in fact, we should have seen it coming."

Pyongyang resumed missile tests following a moratorium of over a year, as negotiations with Donald Trump over disarmament and denuclearisation stalled.

North Korea's most recent test was in May when a pair of missiles timed precisely 9 minutes before and 9 minutes after a US test of a nuclear Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).