N. Korea Conducts Missile Test As US Secretary Of State Visits South

North Korea fired a number of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) into the East Sea overnight as a US delegation led by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was visiting South Korea.

• This was the second time North Korea test-launched ballistic missiles this year, following the January 14 firing of a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) carrying a hypersonic warhead.
• Speaking on the sidelines of the Summit for Democracy hosted by South Korea, Blinken reaffirmed US readiness to work with Seoul in responding to North Korea's military provocations.
• North Korea may step up missile tests and aggressive posturing ahead of the South Korean legislative election (April 10) and US presidential election (November 5), as the timing could amplify the psychological effect of launches.
• For the record, North Korea is also supposed to hold an election to its rubber-stamp legislature this year, but has stayed mum on the details so far, while its polls are widely believed to be neither free nor fair.