SEOUL/TOKYO — North Korea launched two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea near Japan on Thursday, underscoring steady progress in its weapons program and ramping up pressure on the new U.S. administration as it reviews North Korea policy. ADVERTISEMENTThey would be the first ballistic missile tests by North Korea in nearly a year and the first reported since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January. “Downplaying North Korean ballistic missile tests will not help U.S. diplomacy with North Korea in any way, and would only encourage North Korea to further test the bounds of what the new administration can accept,” he said. Japan lodged a formal protest through its embassy in China, while South Korea’s National Security Council expressed deep concern. Biden’s diplomatic overtures to North Korea have similarly gone unanswered, and the North said it would not engage until the United States ceased hostile policies and military exercises with South Korea.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 25, 2021 10:18 UTC