North Korea's test-firings of six short-range projectiles in three days may not reflect a return to a pattern of provocations by Kim Jong Un's regime, according to the U.S. military's top spokesman.
The launches don't in themselves end a "provocation pause" and "do not necessarily violate" North Korea's international obligations, Pentagon spokesman George Little, told reporters Monday in Washington. "I think we can safely say we remain in a period of tensions that are relatively small-scale by comparison" in the months after Pyongyang tested a nuclear device in February.
The firing of any projectiles Tuesday appeared to have "significantly diminished," South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min Seok said. The regime, which fired two missiles Monday and four more projectiles over the weekend, said it is exercising its right to conduct the tests as part of regular military drills.