From Barbara Starr
CNN Pentagon Correspondent
WASHINGTON (CNN) — A U.S. defense official on Thursday dismissed North Korea’s claim of testing newly developed missiles.
“There is no indication of new North Korean technology,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The U.S. military monitored what the defense official described as the routine launch of short-range missiles.
Earlier, North Korea’s state-run news agency KCNA reported that leader Kim Jong Un had “guided the test-fire of newly developed cutting-edge ultra-precision tactical guided missiles.”
“At the central monitoring post he acquainted himself with the tactical and technological information of the newly developed guided missiles before giving an order to test-fire them.
“The moment the guided missiles soared into the sky with thunderous roar,” the report read.
According to the U.S. State Department, North Korea launched three projectiles from its southeastern coast.
“I think we’re always concerned whenever North Korea launches anything,” said State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf.
She added: “We’re monitoring the situation, and we’re still evaluating the available information to identify the exact type of projectile that may have been launched.”
CNN’s Dana Ford contributed to this report.
The-CNN-Wire
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