North Korea again tested two intermediate range ballistic missiles on Tuesday evening, with the presumed Musudan missiles falling into the Sea of Japan. US Strategic Command said it tracked the two launches at Wonsan at 3:56 p.m. and 6:03 p.m. Central Daylight Time. The missiles did not pose a threat to North America, STRATCOM said. The launch immediately drew condemnation from the international community. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement that the launches are in direct violation of several UN Security Council Resolutions, and are a part of “repeated provocative actions” that undermine international security. North Korea has repeatedly tested missiles this year as the US and South Korea discuss the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system to protect from potential North Korean threats.
No matter what happens with the Nunn-McCurdy review of the Sentinel ICBM program, the nation must have a land-based element of its nuclear triad, Pentagon acquisition and sustainment chief William LaPlante told the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee.