North Korea fires more projectiles amid preparations for U.S.-South Korea military exercises

WASHINGTON – North Korea fired more projectiles off its east coast on Monday, according to South Korean military officials. 

Monday's action marks the North Korean regime's fourth such launch in less than two weeks – a series of provocations that highlight the stalled denuclearization negotiations between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un. 

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff did not immediately identify the projectiles, but said they were fired from South Hwanghae Province, according to a statement carried by Yonhap News Agency. 

The launches come as the U.S. and South Korea prepare to conduct joint military exercises. North Korea sees those planning drills as provocative war games.

North Korea's state media has portrayed the country's recent missile tests as a “solemn warning” to protest the U.S.-South Korean military exercises. But experts say Kim's regime uses the joint drills as a pretext to conduct weapons tests, and that the real goal is to gain leverage if and when the U.S.-North Korea talks do restart.

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