North Korea confirms another missile test

North Korea has fired four rounds of weapons in recent weeks after six months of no activity. The Korean Central News Agency said the country fired a newly developed anti-aircraft missile on Thursday. South Korea, Japan, and the United States have not confirmed the launch, signaling it was likely not a major test.

Why the missile spree?  It marks North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s latest push for the removal of U.S. sanctions and improved relations with South Korea. On Wednesday, Kim said he was open to reviving the severed inter-Korean hotlines next month. South Korea said it would prepare to restore the communication lines, which have been dormant for more than a year.

Dig deeper: From the WORLD archives, read Angela Lu Fulton’s report on pastors and activists who launch balloons carrying information and Bibles into North Korea.