SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea test-fired two ballistic missile Monday but one of them possibly flew abnormally, South Korea’s military said, a day after the North vowed “offensive and overwhelming” responses to a new U.S. military drill with South Korea and Japan.
North Korea typically test-fires missiles toward its eastern waters, but the second missile’s flight distance was too short to reach those waters.
It said South Korea maintains a firm readiness to repel any provocations by North Korea in conjunctions with the military alliance with the United States.
North Korea said the launch was successful, but South Korea dismissed the North’s claim as deception to cover up a failed launch.
Meanwhile, North Korea opened a key ruling party meeting Friday to determine what it called “important, immediate issues” related to works to further enhance Korean-style socialism.

North Korea test-launches 2 ballistic missiles, after end of new US-South Korea-Japan drill