US Strategic Command Detects 2 Attempted N Korean Missile Launches

The United States has detected two attempted missile launches by Pyongyang on Thursday and Wednesday, US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) announced in a press release.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — In recent weeks, reports have emerged that North Korea is preparing for a fifth nuclear test. When asked if the White House could confirm these reports, Earnest said that at the moment, the administration had no new assessment to share.

Recently, North Korea has been carrying out a series of nuclear tests. In response to Pyongyang’s actions, Washington and Seoul launched large-scale military drills in the region, while the UN Security Council and the United States both imposed more sanctions on the country.

"US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) systems detected and tracked what we assess were attempted North Korean missile launches at 4:43 p.m. CDT April 27, 2016, and at 5:24 a.m. CDT, April 28, 2016," the statement said on Thursday.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command determined Pyongyang’s launches did not pose any threat to North America, the release noted.

In early January, North Korea successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test, putting a satellite into orbit a month later, in violation UN Security Council resolutions.

In March, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution that imposes additional sanctions on North Korea, aiming to affect multiple sectors of the country’s economy. That same month North Korea conducted multiple short and medium-range rocket launches.