It did not violate United Nations resolutions, which ban North Korea from developing or testing ballistic missile technologies. It did, however, mark the country’s first missile test since President Biden took office in January. When North Korea launches missile tests, they are usually celebrated through state media and quickly confirmed by the South Korean military. South Korean defense officials tend to consider short-range cruise missile tests less of a provocation than ballistic launches. Sill, when North Korea launched short-range cruise missiles off its east coast in April last year, they were promptly confirmed by South Korea.

Source: International New York Times March 24, 2021 06:45 UTC