North Korea fires multiple unidentified projectiles

North Korea fired multiple unidentified projectiles Wednesday morning local time, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

The South Korean military said the projectiles were launched from the Hodo Peninsula on North Korea’s east coast, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. The Joint Chiefs of Staff added that it is monitoring the situation to be prepared in the case of additional launches.

{mosads}The latest launches came six days after Pyongyang fired two short-range projectiles into the East Sea.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.

A senior administration official told The Hill, “We are aware of reports of a missile launch from North Korea and we will continue to monitor the situation.”

North Korea had not launched any projectiles since May until it launched the two projectiles last week.

President Trump has sought to negotiate with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to dismantle his nuclear stockpile and roll back its missile program, though a second summit held earlier this year in Vietnam ended early without an agreement.

Trump, though, has expressed confidence in his ability to reach a deal with Kim, even making an unprecedented trip to the Demilitarized Zone last month, during which the two leaders agreed to restart nuclear talks.

“It was great being with Chairman Kim Jong Un of North Korea this weekend. We had a great meeting, he looked really well and very healthy – I look forward to seeing him again soon,” Trump tweeted earlier this month after the meeting. 

“In the meantime, our teams will be meeting to work on some solutions to very long term and persistent problems. No rush, but I am sure we will ultimately get there!” Trump added.

….In the meantime, our teams will be meeting to work on some solutions to very long term and persistent problems. No rush, but I am sure we will ultimately get there!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2019