North Korea fires two more missiles

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) - North Korea launched two more short-range missiles into open water Friday, according to South Korea's military.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated they were fired just over 20 minutes apart from around 3 a.m. (1800 GMT).

The missiles were launched from the same eastern area as the North's most recent tests Wednesday and the Thursday before last, although Pyongyang earlier insisted that Wednesday's firings involved a new rocket launch system rather than missiles.

North Korea's state media also previously cautioned that its recent launches were a warning to South Korea ahead of this month's planned military drills with the United States.

While the U.S. has played down the significance of Pyongyang's short-range projectiles, the North is barred from testing ballistic missiles under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

Britain, France and Germany released a statement condemning the North's recent launches following a closed-door UNSC meeting Thursday.

But shortly after North Korea's latest provocation, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated to reporters that denuclearization dialogue with Pyongyang can continue as agreed with his counterpart Chairman Kim Jong-un "because these are short-range missiles".

There is no concrete plan for further talks, however, even though working-level dialogue had been expected to get underway after Trump and Kim held a surprise meeting at the inter-Korean border at the end of June.