Trump has 'no problem' with latest North Korean missile tests

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AFP Washington
Last Updated : Aug 02 2019 | 4:37 AM IST

- US President Donald Trump said Thursday he had "no problem" with North Korea's recent ballistic missile tests amid an outcry from Washington's allies and growing fears that Pyongyang is developing long-range weapons.

The North has conducted three tests over the past week, drawing condemnation from European members of the UN Security Council but a comparatively sanguine response from Trump, who has met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un three times as part of denuclearisation talks.

"I have no problem, we'll see what happens but short range (missiles) are very standard," Trump told reporters as he left the White House for a rally in Ohio.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Thursday that Pyongyang had launched two unspecified short-range projectiles, a day after testing two short-range ballistic missiles that travelled 155 miles (250 kilometers) before coming down in the sea.

Similar to the Wednesday launch, the latest test took place from the North's east coast in the pre-dawn hours, Yonhap said, citing Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Pyongyang -- which is banned from firing ballistic missiles under UN Security Council resolutions -- launched two projectiles last week with a considerably longer range than this week's tests.

One traveled almost 435 miles, although Seoul said both were classified as short-range ballistic missiles.

Pyongyang described last week's launch as a "solemn warning to the South Korean warmongers," calling for the cancelation of planned joint military drills between Washington and Seoul.

On Thursday, three UN Security Council members -- Britain, France and Germany -- condemned Pyongyang over the spate of tests.

They urged the North to "take concrete steps towards its complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation and to engage in meaningful negotiations with the US as agreed between President Trump and Kim Jong Un on 30 June."

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First Published: Aug 02 2019 | 4:37 AM IST

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