North Korea fires two cruise missiles, says South Korea govt.

Seoul says it has no plan to pursue its own nuclear deterrent

North Korea fired two cruise missiles on Wednesday, Seoul’s Defence Ministry said, ending a month-long lull in Pyongyang’s record-breaking spate of weapons tests this year. “Early this morning, we detected that North Korea fired two cruise missiles into the West Sea from Onchon, South Pyongan province,” a Ministry official said.

“The U.S. and South Korean military authorities are analysing detailed specifications such as flight distance.”

North Korea has not tested a cruise missile — which are not banned under United Nations sanctions on the country — since January, the Yonhap News Agency reported.

The last time Pyongyang conducted a weapons test was July 10, when they fired what appeared to be multiple rocket launchers.

North Korea has conducted a blitz of sanctions-busting tests since January, including firing an intercontinental ballistic missile at full range for the first time since 2017. Washington and Seoul officials have also warned that the isolated regime is preparing to carry out what would be its seventh nuclear test.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Wednesday his government has no plans to pursue its own nuclear deterrent and called instead for more diplomacy in the face of growing North Korean nuclear weapons capabilities. He urged Pyongyang to return to diplomacy aimed at exchanging denuclearizationfor economic benefits.