North Korea fires short-range missiles after US concessions

Following diplomatic concessions from the US, North Korea has fired at least ten short-range missiles. According to the South Korean military, the projectiles flew into the Sea of ​​Japan, east of the Asian peninsula. The high number of rocket launches is unusual for the regime of ruler Kim Jong-un.

A few days earlier there had been signs of a rapprochement with the South Korean neighbor and its US protective power. In doing so, they accommodated Kim's regime. A joint military maneuver that the two countries are currently conducting is expected to be significantly smaller.

Military exercise ends on Friday

The military exercise is only scheduled to last half as long as planned and will end on Friday. The US government did not inform the South Korean foreign minister about this in advance, as South Korean media reported. Nevertheless, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said he supported Trump's approach, "even if it means scaling back joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States."

US President Donald Trump spoke at the weekend of a “very good relationship” with Kim. He also stated that he wanted to meet Kim in person later this year. South Korea's president spoke out in favor of direct talks with the North Korean dictator in mid-August.

North Korea calls for an immediate end to the military maneuvers

Despite the concession, North Korea's regime continued to criticize the military exercises. This does not change their "provocative and offensive character," said the ruler's sister, Kim Yo-jong, according to the North Korean news agency KCNA.