North Korea tests air defense missiles
Pyongyang rejected talks with Washington following FBI accusations related to the Binance hack.
By Jonathan Reed ·
North Korea confirmed on Thursday that it tested a new air defense missile system on Wednesday. The state-run Korean Central News Agency stated the exercise was designed to verify technical and design characteristics. It also aimed to check the reliability of new materials and a multiple intelligent guidance system.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff detected multiple missiles launched from the northeastern area of Sondok toward the Sea of Japan. KCNA did not specify the exact location of the test in its report.
In the same report, the agency described a drill by a long-range strategic cruise missile unit in the eastern region. This unit simulated an attack on an airfield.
The military exercises coincided with diplomatic friction between Seoul and Washington. Kim Yo-jong, sister of leader Kim Jong-un, declared on Wednesday that Pyongyang has no need to engage in dialogue with the United States. She made this statement after rejecting FBI accusations regarding the cryptocurrency theft from Binance.
This stance dampened expectations for a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. Such a summit was previously anticipated during the APEC economic forum in Shenzhen, China, scheduled for November 18 and 19.
