North Korea missile test

Wednesday's launches marked the first time a North Korean missile had flown over the de facto maritime border separating the two Koreas since the Korean War ended in an armistice in 1953.

North Korea is reportedly working up to testing of a longer-range intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach the whole of the continental U.S.

Monday's test was North Korea's fourth launch in under two weeks. By contrast, it took the North 10 months to conduct that many ballistic missile tests last year.

Following a speech by South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowing to reunify the Koreas, Pyongyang said it would no longer pursue peace with Seoul.

It wasn't immediately clear what type of weapon was tested early Friday, but South Korea's military noted the missiles traveled at hypersonic speeds and flew about 137 miles.

Pyongyang said the new multiple rocket system would cause "inescapable distress" to enemy forces. The test on Wednesday was first thought to be of a short-range ballistic missile.

The latest test of two short-range missiles follows a similar launch last week. It comes as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he is "hopeful" talks between Washington and Pyongyang will resume soon.

The test of short-range missiles — one of which may be a new design — is seen as a pressure tactic on Washington as Pyongyang warns against a resumption of U.S.-South Korea military exercises.

The apparent missiles were launched from the northwest, far from the border that divides the Korean Peninsula.