North Korea Fires Missiles
Pyongyang launched missiles after Trump sought talks and scaled back drills.
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Updated Aug 20, 6:01pm ETEvery side, every morning
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The reporting
North Korea launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area toward waters east of the peninsula on Thursday; they flew roughly 300 kilometers before falling into the sea. The barrage followed President Donald Trump’s order to scale back the U.S.-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, involving 18,000 South Korean troops and due to end Friday with about half the program complete. Trump said he expected to meet Kim Jong Un later this year, while Kim Yo Jong said the reduced drills remained hostile.
Analysis & opinion
Failed appeasementMostly Left
Trump tried to placate North Korea and tout his personal relationship with Kim Jong Un, but Pyongyang rejected the gesture in embarrassing fashion. North Korea’s rebuke, including Kim Yo Jong’s mockery, showed the outreach had failed and worsened the regional fallout.
Alliance damageLeft & Center
Trump’s outreach to Kim Jong Un and cuts to joint military exercises put South Korea in a weaker security and diplomatic position. Scaling back the drills risks eroding military readiness, weakening confidence in U.S. commitments, and straining the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
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