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| North Korea hails 'super large' launcher test as virus timing condemned | North Korea hails 'super large' launcher test as virus timing condemned |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| North Korea hailed a test of "super large" rocket launchers, just hours after the South condemned the state as "inappropriate" for pursing tests amid the global coronavirus outbreak | North Korea hailed a test of "super large" rocket launchers, just hours after the South condemned the state as "inappropriate" for pursing tests amid the global coronavirus outbreak |
| On Sunday, South Korea said two short-range missiles had been fired, the latest in a flurry of tests this month. | On Sunday, South Korea said two short-range missiles had been fired, the latest in a flurry of tests this month. |
| The North generally ramps up missile tests in the spring and the global virus outbreak has not deterred it. | The North generally ramps up missile tests in the spring and the global virus outbreak has not deterred it. |
| It has reported no virus cases, but experts have cast doubt on this. | It has reported no virus cases, but experts have cast doubt on this. |
| Sunday's test was of two short-range ballistic missiles fired from the eastern city of Wonsan. They flew for 410km (255 miles) with a maximum altitude of around 50km before falling into the sea, the South Korean military said. | Sunday's test was of two short-range ballistic missiles fired from the eastern city of Wonsan. They flew for 410km (255 miles) with a maximum altitude of around 50km before falling into the sea, the South Korean military said. |
| Then on Monday, North Korean state media outlet KCNA reported that it had successfully tested "super large" multiple rocket launchers. | Then on Monday, North Korean state media outlet KCNA reported that it had successfully tested "super large" multiple rocket launchers. |
| By then the South had already condemned the North's actions In a harshly-worded statement. | |
| "In a situation where the entire world is experiencing difficulties due to Covid-19, this kind of military act by North Korea is very inappropriate and we call for an immediate halt," said South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. | "In a situation where the entire world is experiencing difficulties due to Covid-19, this kind of military act by North Korea is very inappropriate and we call for an immediate halt," said South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. |
| No signs of stopping | No signs of stopping |
| The latest test marked the eighth and ninth missiles launched in four rounds of tests this month, said news agency Reuters. | The latest test marked the eighth and ninth missiles launched in four rounds of tests this month, said news agency Reuters. |
| This is the most missiles ever fired in a single month by North Korea, according to a senior researcher at the James Martin Centre for Nonproliferation Studies. | This is the most missiles ever fired in a single month by North Korea, according to a senior researcher at the James Martin Centre for Nonproliferation Studies. |
| "The only time we've seen tests this frequently were in 2016 and 2017," said Shea Cotton, who also posted details of missile tests that have taken place over the years. | "The only time we've seen tests this frequently were in 2016 and 2017," said Shea Cotton, who also posted details of missile tests that have taken place over the years. |
| Mr Cotton also told the BBC that it was likely that North Korea would continue testing. | Mr Cotton also told the BBC that it was likely that North Korea would continue testing. |
| "Most recently they've hinted that they've developed other yet unseen missiles. I also think they might do tests of new missiles or might test their existing ones in different ways." | "Most recently they've hinted that they've developed other yet unseen missiles. I also think they might do tests of new missiles or might test their existing ones in different ways." |
| North Korea had earlier announced it would be holding a session of the Supreme People's Assembly, the country's parliament, on 10 April. Analysts say the meeting will involve almost 700 of the country's leaders in one spot. | North Korea had earlier announced it would be holding a session of the Supreme People's Assembly, the country's parliament, on 10 April. Analysts say the meeting will involve almost 700 of the country's leaders in one spot. |
| "What coronavirus?" | "What coronavirus?" |
| By Laura Bicker, BBC News, Seoul | By Laura Bicker, BBC News, Seoul |
| North Korea is carrying out its spring exercises as if everything is perfectly normal. In fact it's been one of the state's busiest months in terms of weapons testing. | North Korea is carrying out its spring exercises as if everything is perfectly normal. In fact it's been one of the state's busiest months in terms of weapons testing. |
| Why? Well firstly because it has weapons that it wants to test - despite being under strict sanctions for several years. That itself may be something it is keen to show off to the population. | Why? Well firstly because it has weapons that it wants to test - despite being under strict sanctions for several years. That itself may be something it is keen to show off to the population. |
| It's a move that is less about provocation and more about national pride. | It's a move that is less about provocation and more about national pride. |
| Remember, North Koreans were shown footage of US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un meeting in Singapore back in 2018 in an unprecedented wave of diplomacy. I have heard from sources within the country that it raised hopes sanctions would be lifted - but nothing has changed. | Remember, North Koreans were shown footage of US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un meeting in Singapore back in 2018 in an unprecedented wave of diplomacy. I have heard from sources within the country that it raised hopes sanctions would be lifted - but nothing has changed. |
| These exercises give the population something to rally around. The message being portrayed is along the lines of: 'Look what we can do, look how powerful we are, despite international condemnation." | These exercises give the population something to rally around. The message being portrayed is along the lines of: 'Look what we can do, look how powerful we are, despite international condemnation." |
| Meanwhile - coronavirus? What coronavirus? | Meanwhile - coronavirus? What coronavirus? |
| North Korea has launched a concerted campaign to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Pyongyang has denied having cases of the virus within its borders. But reports in South Korea have suggested otherwise. | North Korea has launched a concerted campaign to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Pyongyang has denied having cases of the virus within its borders. But reports in South Korea have suggested otherwise. |
| Continuing to carry out weapons tests while the world is fighting another fierce battle will help portray Supreme Leader Kim as very much in control of the pandemic. | Continuing to carry out weapons tests while the world is fighting another fierce battle will help portray Supreme Leader Kim as very much in control of the pandemic. |
| North Korea borders China, where the virus emerged, and South Korea, where there has been a major outbreak. A top US military official said last week he was "fairly certain" there were infections in North Korea. | North Korea borders China, where the virus emerged, and South Korea, where there has been a major outbreak. A top US military official said last week he was "fairly certain" there were infections in North Korea. |
| It quarantined around 380 foreigners - mostly diplomats and staff in Pyongyang - in their compounds for at least 30 days. | It quarantined around 380 foreigners - mostly diplomats and staff in Pyongyang - in their compounds for at least 30 days. |
| The restrictions were lifted at the beginning of March. Around 80 foreigners, mainly diplomats, were flown out of the capital on 9 March. | The restrictions were lifted at the beginning of March. Around 80 foreigners, mainly diplomats, were flown out of the capital on 9 March. |