North Korea Launches Short Range Ballistic Missiles Into Sea

North Korea has fired multiple ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast. The launches on Friday build on growing tensions between the U.S. and the isolated nation in recent weeks.

U.S. Pacific Command said it had tracked three short-range ballistic missile launches that did not pose a threat to North America, two of which appeared to fail in flight. Officials said another missile appears to have blown up almost immediately.

President Donald Trump has been briefed on the launch.

Statement on latest #NorthKorea violation of @UN Security Council resolutions: 3 SRBM launches; no threat to U.S. territory including #Guam pic.twitter.com/UmQHyZtleC

U.S. Pacific Command (@PacificCommand) August 25, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"U.S. Pacific Command","author_url":"https://twitter.com/PacificCommand","cache_age":86400,"description":"Statement on latest #NorthKorea violation of @UN Security Council resolutions: 3 SRBM launches; no threat to U.S. territory including #Guam pic.twitter.com/UmQHyZtleC— U.S. Pacific Command (@PacificCommand) August 25, 2017\n","provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":613,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DIHMHYjUIAAKo3L.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":891,"title":"U.S. Pacific Command on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/PacificCommand/status/901226675647561728","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"599c7c01e4b06a788a2c7df2","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/north-korea-missile-test_n_599c7c01e4b06a788a2c7df2","entryTagsList":"international-news,north-korea,south-korea,military-technologies,republic-of-korea-armed-forces,@genassign,@health_depression,@health_erectile,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"world-news","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"politics","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.world-news","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":9},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"599c7c01e4b06a788a2c7df2","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"International News","slug":"international-news","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/international-news","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/international-news","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/international-news"},"relegenceSubjectId":980522,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"International News","slug":"international-news","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/international-news"},{"name":"North Korea","slug":"north-korea","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/north-korea","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/north-korea","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/north-korea"},"relegenceId":3689865,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"North Korea","slug":"north-korea","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/north-korea"},{"name":"South Korea","slug":"south-korea","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/south-korea","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/south-korea","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/south-korea"},"relegenceId":3692241,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"World News","slug":"world-news"},"topic":{"title":"South Korea","slug":"south-korea","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/south-korea"},{"name":"Military Technologies","slug":"military-technologies","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/military-technologies","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/military-technologies","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/military-technologies"},"relegenceSubjectId":981221,"department":{"name":"Impact","slug":"impact"},"section":{"title":"Impact","slug":"impact"},"topic":{"title":"Military","slug":"military","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/impact/topic/military"},{"name":"Republic of Korea Armed Forces","slug":"republic-of-korea-armed-forces","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/republic-of-korea-armed-forces","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/republic-of-korea-armed-forces","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/republic-of-korea-armed-forces"},"relegenceId":3692244,"url":"https://action.news/topic/republic-of-korea-armed-forces"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

Statement on latest #NorthKorea violation of @UN Security Council resolutions: 3 SRBM launches; no threat to U.S. territory including #Guam pic.twitter.com/UmQHyZtleC
U.S. Pacific Command (@PacificCommand) August 25, 2017

South Koreas military notes the projectiles flew more than 150 miles, and added it was still analyzing the development, according to Yonhap.

North Koreas state-run KCNA news agency said the country had conducted a target-striking contest on Saturday morning local time under the direction of Kim, according to a translation of a news release, although it was unclear if the contest was related to the days military test.

The launches come days after the U.S. and South Korea began the 10-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian military exercises, an annual joint military drill the two countries have held in some form for more than half a century. While the simulated war exercise is intended to help establish defense techniques for a potential attack, North Korea views the drills as confrontational.

As the exercises commenced on Monday, North Korea once again denounced U.S. President Donald Trump , who had promised fire and fury earlier this month if Pyongyang threatened the United States.

Trumps aggressive remarks came in response to a report that Pyongyang recently managed to miniaturize a nuclear warhead, a crucial step in its efforts to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a nuclear warhead that could reach the United States.

North Korea has ramped up its nuclear and missile development programs in recent months. Since February, Kim Jong Un has test-fired 18 missiles in 12 tests, compared to 24 missiles through all of last year. The leader has fired more tests than both his father and grandfather combined, CNN reported, and has finessed the technology of their weapons with each launch.

While Kim warned after Trumps incendiary comments that North Korea may fire a missile at the U.S. territory of Guam, he appeared to back down from that threat last week. South Korean President Moon Jae-in emphasized that same day that the U.S. would not take any military action on the Korean peninsula without Seouls consent.

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

The South Korean military warned late last month that another missile test from its northern neighbor may be imminent after satellite imagery showed a high level of activity at North Koreas nuclear test site.

This story has been updated with news that North Korea fired multiple projectiles.

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Related