North Korea Launches Multiple Ballistic Missiles

A directional sign showing the distance to North Korea's Kaesong and Seoul stands in front of fences adorned with ribbons bearing messages wishing for the reunification of the two Koreas at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A directional sign showing the distance to North Korea's Kaesong and Seoul stands in front of fences adorned with ribbons bearing messages wishing for the reunification of the two Koreas at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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North Korea Launches Multiple Ballistic Missiles

A directional sign showing the distance to North Korea's Kaesong and Seoul stands in front of fences adorned with ribbons bearing messages wishing for the reunification of the two Koreas at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A directional sign showing the distance to North Korea's Kaesong and Seoul stands in front of fences adorned with ribbons bearing messages wishing for the reunification of the two Koreas at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Thursday, its neighbors said, days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to put his nuclear force fully ready for battle with its rivals.
According to The Associated Press, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the missiles launched from North Korea's capital flying 360 kilometers before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed officials to ensure the safety of ships and aircraft, but there were no reports of damage.
The reported fight distances suggest the missiles were designed to attack targets in South Korea. In trilateral phone talks, diplomats from South Korea, Japan and the US condemned the launches that they said threatens regional and international peace. The US Indo-Pacific Command separately reaffirmed that the U.S. security commitment to South Korea and Japan remains “ironclad.”
The launches were North Korea's first public weapons firing activities in more than two months. On July 1, North Korea claimed to have tested a new tactical weapon capable of delivering a “super-large” 4.5 ton-class warhead.
In a Monday speech marking his government's 76th foundation anniversary, Kim said he would redouble efforts to make his nuclear force fully ready for combat with the United States and its allies. Kim made such a pledge saying North Korea faces “a grave threat” because of what he called “the reckless expansion” of a US-led regional military bloc.
Kim has made similar vows numerous times, but his latest threat came as outside experts believe North Korea could carry out a nuclear test explosion or long-range missile test-launches ahead of the US presidential election in November to boost its leverage in future dealings with the US.
On Sunday, North Korea's state media published a photo of Kim inspecting a 12-axel vehicle that would be the country's biggest missile launch platform. That sparked speculation that the North could be developing a more powerful intercontinental ballistic missile designed to strike the US mainland.
Commercial satellite images indicate that North Korea’s northeastern nuclear test site incurred minor damage from heavy summer rains in recent weeks and that no notable recent work was detected at its tunnels, 38 North, a North Korea-focused website, said an analytical piece published Wednesday.



UN Names Former British Diplomat Tom Fletcher to Lead Aid Efforts

Fletcher replaces Martin Griffiths, who stepped down at the end of June for health reasons.
Fletcher replaces Martin Griffiths, who stepped down at the end of June for health reasons.
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UN Names Former British Diplomat Tom Fletcher to Lead Aid Efforts

Fletcher replaces Martin Griffiths, who stepped down at the end of June for health reasons.
Fletcher replaces Martin Griffiths, who stepped down at the end of June for health reasons.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday appointed former British diplomat Tom Fletcher as the new aid chief for the world body amid worsening humanitarian crises in the Gaza Strip, Sudan and elsewhere, largely driven by conflict.

Fletcher replaces Martin Griffiths, who stepped down at the end of June for health reasons.

Fletcher - who is currently the principal of Hertford College, Oxford - was the British ambassador to Lebanon from 2011-2015 and served as the foreign and development policy adviser to three British prime ministers between 2007-2011, the UN said in a statement.

He "has strong experience of leading and transforming organizations and bringing an understanding of diplomacy at the highest levels," the UN said.

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said he did not know when Fletcher would take up the role.

The announcement comes as UN efforts to tackle humanitarian needs around the world are significantly underfunded.

The UN has appealed for $49 billion in 2024 to help 187.6 million of the people in need across 73 countries. But the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which Fletcher will lead, said on Wednesday that so far it has only received $16.21 billion.