Days after launching a new long-range cruise missile in its first tests in 6 months, North Korea fired 2 ballistic missiles off its east coast yesterday, South Korea’s military said. Pyongyang’s latest move directly violates United Nations’ resolutions that forbid it from testing ballistic missiles, which are faster and more dangerous than cruise missiles. Reports say it will likely lead to the enforcement of sanctions, and that could exacerbate food shortages and the country’s economic crisis. The latest missile tests indicate North Korea is powering on with its weapons program after the US-led effort to denuclearise North Korea stalled in 2019, analysts say. Following talks between officials from South Korea, Japan and the US in Tokyo yesterday, the 3 nations said they were willing to keep diplomatic channels open with North Korea, but urged the nation to return to talks “without preconditions”.