North Korea fires ballistic missiles off its east coast
As world leaders gather at Group of 20 summit in China, Pyongyang provides defiant reminder of the risks to global security
HANGZHOU — North Korea fired three ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday in a defiant reminder of the risks to global security, as world leaders including US President Barack Obama gathered at a Group of 20 (G-20) summit in China for the second day.North Korea has tested missiles at sensitive times in the past to draw attention to its military might. But Monday’s launch risks embarrassing its main ally Beijing, which has gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure a smooth summit meeting in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.The missile test was also an unwanted distraction for the US, which has been trying on the sidelines of the summit to finalise a deal with Russia for a ceasefire in Syria.US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov met in Hangzhou, but failed to clinch a breakthrough. Obama later talked to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but there was no immediate word on the outcome.The South Korean military said Pyongyang launched the m...
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