North Korea has conducted its first missile test since President Joe Biden took office, in what is seen as a challenge to the new US administration. Japan and South Korea have condemned the launch, which took place on Thursday. The missile test comes just days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to build up his country’s nuclear arsenal.
The test involved short-range missiles, which landed in the Sea of Japan. The United States has said it is still analyzing the situation and consulting with its allies in the region. The Biden administration has previously said it is open to diplomacy with North Korea, but is also committed to denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
The launch marks a departure from a recent pause in missile testing by North Korea. The country’s last such test was in March 2020, with relations between North Korea and the US relatively calm during the Trump administration. President Biden has not yet commented on the latest test.
