North Korea fired several ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Monday morning

Pyongyang says launches were to verify results of 'technological upgrades'

North Korea said it conducted a tactical ballistic missile test launch on Monday. KCNA reported Tuesday that "the Missile General Bureau conducted a tactical ballistic missile test launch on the 12th to verify the results of technological upgrades to key core components." [Yonhap]
North Korea said it conducted a tactical ballistic missile test launch on Monday. KCNA reported Tuesday that "the Missile General Bureau conducted a tactical ballistic missile test launch on the 12th to verify the results of technological upgrades to key core components." [Yonhap]

Diplomatic authorities from South Korea, the United States and Japan held phone consultations to discuss a response to North Korea's ballistic missile launches.

According to South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Baek Yong-jin, director general of the Korean Peninsula Policy Bureau, spoke Tuesday with David Wajileozel, US deputy assistant secretary of state for Japan and Korea, and Ariyoshi Takashi, director of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to share relevant information and discuss future response measures.

The three countries maintain a channel to rapidly share information and situation assessments each time North Korea fires a ballistic missile.

North Korea launched several ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area into the East Sea on Monday morning. Some of the missiles were assessed to have traveled more than 900 kilometers.

KCNA reported Tuesday that "the Missile General Bureau conducted a tactical ballistic missile test launch on the 12th to verify the results of technological upgrades to key core components."


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