From: slider@nanashram.com

(CNN)North Korea fired three short-range ballistic missiles Saturday
morning from Kangwon province, the US Pacific Command said.

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/25/asia/north-korea-fires-projectile/index.html

Though North Korea says it now has the ability to send missiles to the US mainland, US defense officials said they determined these missiles did not
pose a threat to North America or Guam.

Cmdr. David Benham, spokesman for US Pacific Command, said the first and
third missiles "failed in flight" and the second missile launch "appears
to have blown up almost immediately."

The missile tests occurred as the United States and South Korea conducted
the annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian military exercises.

South Korea and the United States call the exercises defensive in nature,
but North Korea sees them as provocative and hostile, perhaps even
preparation for an invasion.

"The Korean People's Army is keeping a high alert, fully ready to contain
the enemies. It will take resolute steps the moment even a slight sign of
the preventive war is spotted," North Korean state-run newspaper Rodong
Sinmun said.

A statement issued by the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said "the projectiles" were launched around 6:49 a.m. Saturday and flew about 250 kilometers (155 miles) into the Sea of Japan, or East Sea.

South Korea planned to convene its national security council several hours after the missile launches, the presidential office said in a statement.

"Our military is closely monitoring for North Korean additional
provocation and strengthened surveillance and security postures and
maintaining readiness postures," the South Korean release said.

North Korea has conducted a series of ballistic missile tests this year, increasing tensions with the United States, South Korea and Japan.

The country has fired more than 20 missiles since February, further
perfecting its technology with each launch. In July, it launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, which North Korea claims could reach "anywhere in the world."

The missile launches pose "no immediate threat" to Guam, Guam's office of
the governor said in a statement.

"Although the launches were no threat to Guam, it reminds us that we
cannot be complacent," said George Charfauros, the homeland security
adviser on the US territory. "We place confidence in our US Department of Defense capabilities and continue open communications with our federal and military partners."

Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, told reporters Saturday morning the launches would not directly affect Japan's security, and that
no missiles have reached Japan's territorial water and exclusive economic
zone, according to the Prime Minister's office.

The prime minister directed his staff to remain on high alert, Suga said.

### - ohhhh shit??

'restraint' now placed firmly in the hands of the US!

anyone for tennis? :)

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: www.darkrealms.ca (1:229/2)