North Korea on March 17 reportedly conducted another nuclear missile test, claiming a launch of ballistic missiles into the sea of Japan. The US State Department, in a statement,? said it is “closely monitoring” the situation and calls on North Korea “to refrain from actions that further raise tensions in the region and focus on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its international commitments and obligations.” US officials said the missiles flew about 500 miles before falling into the sea, reported the BBC. The US has called for a UN Security Council meeting on the missile launches, and officials want to discuss more possible sanctions against the country, State Department spokesman John Kirby said Friday. North Korea has actively attempted to showcase its nuclear ambition, ordering its forces on standby and purportedly detonating its first thermonuclear weapon in January. (See also: Tensions Flare on the Korean Peninsula.)
The Pentagon agency charged with building and operating U.S. spy satellites recently declassified some details about a Cold War-era surveillance program called Jumpseat—a revelation it says sheds light on the importance of satellite imaging technology and how it has advanced in the decades since.
