North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Monday in a widely condemned weapons test - its second in three days - that prompted Tokyo to request an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
The firings follow an intercontinental ballistic missile launch Saturday and North Korea's threats to take an unprecedentedly strong response to U.S.-South Korean military drills that the North views as an invasion rehearsal. Some experts say North Korea is pushing for more powerful weapons so that it can increase its leverage in potential negotiations with the United States.
An initial Security Council briefing led by Assistant Secretary-General for political affairs Khaled Khiari was set for later Monday. The North said the launches involved its new 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher system that could be armed with “tactical” nuclear weapons for battlefield use. South Korean defense officials have viewed the weapons system as a short-range ballistic missile.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said that North Korea may make further provocations, such as more missile launches and nuclear tests.
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