00:00 "North Korea fired unidentified ballistic missiles today as Kim Jong-un held a rare
00:09 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
00:12 "North Korea fires unidentified ballistic missiles towards the East Sea," Seoul's
00:16 Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.
00:21 Japan also confirmed the firing of ballistic missiles, saying that at least two have fallen
00:26 outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone.
00:29 The development comes as the North Korean dictator is in Russia with his top military
00:33 officials to meet Putin for talks focused on defense cooperation.
00:37 It is believed that Putin could use the meeting to secure artillery supplies and other ammunition
00:42 from North Korea to prolong his invasion of Ukraine.
00:46 In return, experts argue that Kim might seek much-needed economic aid and sophisticated
00:51 weapons technologies to advance his nuclear weapon and missiles program.
00:57 The North Korean leader took a special private train to reach Russia yesterday in the Russian
01:01 Far East accompanied by top defense industry and military aides.
01:06 He was welcomed by an honor guard and senior Russian and regional officials.
01:10 Kim said that his decision to visit Russia four years after his previous visit showed
01:15 how Pyongyang is prioritizing the strategic importance of its relations with Moscow.
01:20 North Korea has conducted a string of banned weapons tests this year, the last involving
01:24 firing two short-range ballistic missiles on August 30.
01:28 International sanctions prohibit Pyongyang from testing ballistic missiles and launching
01:32 satellites but it has been flouting such restrictions for years and with increased regularity more
01:37 recently.
01:38 Pyongyang has carried out successive weapons tests as it looks to modernize its military.
01:43 This year, it had launched its first-ever solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile
01:48 besides trying to put its first military spy satellite into orbit.
01:53 Those efforts failed but officials had promised to try again.
01:56 -END-
