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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired two short-range projectiles into the sea off its east coast, the Republic of Korea (ROK) military said on Thursday, as nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington remain in a deadlock.

The projectiles were fired from the areas of Yeonpo in the country's eastern South Hamgyong Province into the waters off the east coast at around 4:59 p.m., according to Yonhap.

A projectile is fired during DPRK's recent missile tests in the picture released by DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), November 28, 2019. /KCNA Photo via Reuters A projectile is fired during DPRK's recent missile tests in the picture released by DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), November 28, 2019. /KCNA Photo via Reuters

Thursday's launch was the latest in a series of weapons tests by Pyongyang, which fired what it called two "super-large multiple rocket launcher" systems last month.

U.S. President Donald Trump has played down the recent launches, repeatedly pointing to DPRK's moratorium on nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile launches as foreign policy successes for him.



But negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington have been gridlocked since a second summit between Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi in February collapsed without a deal.



The DPRK is under multiple sets of international sanctions over its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs, and lifting some of them was a key demand at the Hanoi summit.



Earlier this month, Seoul and Washington said they would postpone planned joint military exercises to ease diplomacy with the DPRK – an announcement that Pyongyang dismissed.

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un oversees a super-large multiple launch rocket system test in this undated picture released by DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), November 28, 2019. /KCNA Photo via Reuters DPRK leader Kim Jong Un oversees a super-large multiple launch rocket system test in this undated picture released by DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), November 28, 2019. /KCNA Photo via Reuters

Reactions from Japan, ROK and the U.S.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday said that a missile launch by the DPRK was a threat to Japan and the international community, and that Tokyo would be in close contact with its partners to monitor the situation.



"Multiple missile launches by North Korea (DPRK) are a serious challenge not only to Japan, but also the international society," Abe told reporters after the country's defense ministry confirmed that an object that appeared to be a missile was launched from Pyongyang earlier in the day.



"We will remain in close contact with the United States, South Korea (ROK) and the international community to monitor the situation. We will increase our vigilance to preserve the safety and assets of the Japanese people," he said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) speaks to the media after ROK's decision on the military intelligence-sharing agreement at his official residence, Tokyo, Japan, November 22, 2019. /VCG Photo Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) speaks to the media after ROK's decision on the military intelligence-sharing agreement at his official residence, Tokyo, Japan, November 22, 2019. /VCG Photo