N. Korea fires 3 ballistic missiles amid 1st virus outbreak

[soryang]

AP today

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired three short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Thursday, its neighbors said, in the latest of a series of weapons demonstrations this year that came just hours after it confirmed its first case of the coronavirus since the pandemic began.

The launches could underscore North Korea’s determination to press ahead with its efforts to expand its arsenal despite the virus outbreak to rally support behind the leader, Kim Jong Un, and keep up pressure on its rivals amid long-dormant nuclear diplomacy.

Thursday’s launches were the North’s first weapons fired since the inauguration of new conservative South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday.

https://apnews.com/article/seoul-south-korea-north-327a81d1281f2fadeb430e4c632458b7

The headline should be North Korea fires 3 ballistic missiles at six thirty in the evening (Seoul time), President Yoon not available for National Security Council meeting per government regulations. New President Yoon already left the office for the day, and his executive office staff and their ad hoc security committee issues statement.

Critics joke, the president probably left the office to do some drinking. President Yoon isn't even in office three days and the security gap created by his refusal to move into the Blue House where the South Korean President traditionally lived and directed NSC meetings from the national command center underground is already displayed. No comment from the conservative South Korean media. He's a Milton Friedman privatizer and anti labor rights, that's all that matters to them. Yoon said during the campaign it was okay for employees to work 120 hours a week, but he treats the Presidential office as a nine to five job and isn't available in a threat situation,