It is unclear what exactly was launched, but South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the military “is maintaining its readiness by monitoring relevant movements in preparation for further launches.”
Japan’s Coast Guard said in a statement “it appears that North Korea has launched a missile” and advised ships to avoid the area.
Despite their differences, US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have continued to speak positively of their personal relationship.
However, Pyongyang has been particularly critical of Trump’s advisers and the diplomats around him. And the clock on striking an agreement may be ticking.
Kim said in an important policy speech in April that he would give the Trump administration until the end of the year to change its negotiating strategy. Since then, North Korea resumed test-firing missiles and has reiterated in state media that Pyongyang is giving the US until the end of the year to solve the issue. It’s unclear how serious that deadline is.
This week also marked the first time Kim has communicated with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in weeks.
Kim sent a letter to Moon to offer condolences to the South Korean leader after his father died, according to Moon’s office.
The letter was delivered Wednesday and handed over at Panmunjom, the joint security area in the demilitarized zone that divides North and South Korea.
Source : Nbcnewyork