North Korea reportedly test-fired “a new multiple rocket launcher system that could potentially enhance the country’s ability to strike targets in South Korea“ on Friday (EST), the AP reports.
Catch up quick: North Korea launched at least one short-range projectile into the Sea of Japan on Thursday (EST), according to a U.S. official's statement to ABC. Two days before, North Korea fired 2 short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Where it stands: President Trump said that North Korea's three short-range missile tests this week do not violate his 2018 agreement with Kim Jong-un, but told Kim to "do the right thing" in a series of Friday tweets.
- Trump has downplayed North Korea's missile tests since meeting Jong-un at the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in late June.
The other side: North Korea claims that its test launches on Wednesday and Thursday were a "large-caliber multiple launch guided rocket system," per NPR and the AP — which contradicts public American and South Korean military assessments.
Go deeper: Ignoring North Korean missile tests could hamper nuclear talks
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include North Korea's description of its test launches and Friday's reported launch.
