SEOUL — North Korea fired missiles for the third time in eight days on Friday, a series of launches that analysts say are designed to improve military capabilities and pressure the United States and South Korea as they seek to restart denuclearisation talks. U.S. officials, who have been hoping to revive the stalled talks with North Korea, played down the launches. U.S. officials said initial information indicated they were similar to two other short-range missile tests by Pyongyang since last week. The launches appear intended to put pressure on South Korea and the United States to stop planned military exercises later this month and offer other concessions. Andrei Lankov, director of Korea Risk Group, a think tank, said the latest missile tests do not mean Pyongyang was no longer interested in talks with the United States.

Source: National Post August 02, 2019 04:07 UTC