Iran today fired over a dozen ballistic missiles on US airbases in Iraq targeting Al-Assad and Irbil. Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Jonathan Hoffman said, "At approximately 5.30 pm (2230 GMT) on January 7, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against US military and coalition forces in Iraq," said. #WION #Iran

Iran fires over a dozen ballistic missiles

Iran threatens to attack US allies

On Wednesday, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-fires-short-range-ballistic-missiles-south-korean-military-239597">North Korea</a> fired two, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-south-korea-us-military-drill-north-korea-fires-two-short-range-ballistic-missiles-239579">new short-range ballistic missiles</a>. The latest launches were from Wonsan area on North Korea’s east coast - the same area from where the missiles were fired last week.&nbsp;

The missile tests also come amid North Korea showcasing a new submarine last week which is capable of carrying up to three ballistic missiles.

South Korea says that North Korea fired ballistic missiles that flew about 250 kilometres and that they appeared to be similar to those launched last week.

Dubbed the KN-23, the missiles are designed to evade missile defence systems by being easier to hide, launch, and manoeuvre in flight.&nbsp;

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/north-korea-missile-tests-are-warning-to-south-korea-238647/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The two KN-23s launched last week were reported as having a “low-altitude gliding and leaping flight” pattern that would make them hard to intercept.

Some analysts said that the range and the altitude of Wednesday’s flights could indicate a test of those capabilities.&nbsp;

Why missile tests?

The answer is not far to seek. North Korea does not want the United States and South Korea to conduct joint military drills planned for August. The country is also upset by South Korea buying F-35 fighter jets from the US.

&nbsp;July 25 missile tests

The missiles launched on July 25 were North Korea's first missile tests since Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump met on June 30 and agreed to revive stalled denuclearisation talks.

The missile tests are intended to pressure South Korea and the United States to stop upcoming military drills.

South Korea has bought US-manufactured F-35 stealth fighter jets. It took delivery of its first two F-35 jets in March with more slated to arrive this year.

It has agreed to buy a total of 40 of the advanced aircraft, the last to be delivered by 2021.

Destroy US-manufactured weapons!

North Korean state media said on July 11 that Pyongyang must develop and test “special armaments” to destroy the new US-manufactured weapons.

“There is no room for doubt that the delivery of ‘F-35a’, which is also called an ‘invisible lethal weapon’, is aimed at securing military supremacy over the neighbouring countries in the region and especially opening a ‘gate’ to invading the north in time of emergency on the korean peninsula,” read a statement published by North Korean state news agency KCNA.

'No other choice'

North Korea stated that Pyongyang has no other choice but to develop and test the special armaments to completely destroy the lethal weapons reinforced in South Korea.

US playing down launches

US President Donald Trump and his foreign minister Mike Pompeo had played down last week’s launches.

Pompeo has continued to express hope for a diplomatic way forward with North Korea. For his part, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said there was no impact from Wednesday’s launch on Japan’s security.

The missile tests came on a day when Pompeo met ASEAN leaders in Thailand's capital Bangkok.&nbsp;

Trump and Kim last met on June 30 in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas.

Breach of promise

Since then, Pyongyang has accused Washington of breaking a promise by planning to hold joint military exercises with South Korea next month and warned those drills could derail talks.&nbsp;

North Korea has also warned of a possible end to its freeze on nuclear and long-range missile tests that has been in place since 2017. Trump has repeatedly upheld this as evidence of the success of his engagement with Kim.&nbsp;

The February summit between Trump and Kim in Vietnam had collapsed after the leaders failed to reconcile differences between Washington’s demands for Pyongyang’s complete denuclearisation and North Korean demands for sanctions relief.

On Wednesday, North Korea fired two, new short-range ballistic missiles. The latest launches were from Wonsan area on North Korea’s east coast - the same area from where the missiles were fired last week.

On Wednesday, North Korea fired two, new short-range ballistic missiles. The latest launches were from Wonsan area on North Korea’s east coast - the same area from where the missiles were fired last week. The missile tests also come amid North Korea showcasing a new submarine last week which is capable of carrying up to three ballistic missiles. South Korea says that North Korea fired ballistic missiles that flew about 250 kilometres and that they appeared to be similar to those launched last week. Dubbed the KN-23, the missiles are designed to evade missile defence systems by being easier to hide, launch, and manoeuvre in flight. Watch Video: The two KN-23s launched last week were reported as having a “low-altitude gliding and leaping flight” pattern that would make them hard to intercept. Some analysts said that the range and the altitude of Wednesday’s flights could indicate a test of those capabilities. Why missile tests? The answer is not far to seek. North Korea does not want the United States and South Korea to conduct joint military drills planned for August. The country is also upset by South Korea buying F-35 fighter jets from the US. July 25 missile tests The missiles launched on July 25 were North Korea's first missile tests since Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump met on June 30 and agreed to revive stalled denuclearisation talks. The missile tests are intended to pressure South Korea and the United States to stop upcoming military drills. South Korea has bought US-manufactured F-35 stealth fighter jets. It took delivery of its first two F-35 jets in March with more slated to arrive this year. It has agreed to buy a total of 40 of the advanced aircraft, the last to be delivered by 2021. Destroy US-manufactured weapons! North Korean state media said on July 11 that Pyongyang must develop and test “special armaments” to destroy the new US-manufactured weapons. “There is no room for doubt that the delivery of ‘F-35a’, which is also called an ‘invisible lethal weapon’, is aimed at securing military supremacy over the neighbouring countries in the region and especially opening a ‘gate’ to invading the north in time of emergency on the korean peninsula,” read a statement published by North Korean state news agency KCNA. 'No other choice' North Korea stated that Pyongyang has no other choice but to develop and test the special armaments to completely destroy the lethal weapons reinforced in South Korea. US playing down launches US President Donald Trump and his foreign minister Mike Pompeo had played down last week’s launches. Pompeo has continued to express hope for a diplomatic way forward with North Korea. For his part, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said there was no impact from Wednesday’s launch on Japan’s security. The missile tests came on a day when Pompeo met ASEAN leaders in Thailand's capital Bangkok. Trump and Kim last met on June 30 in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas. Breach of promise Since then, Pyongyang has accused Washington of breaking a promise by planning to hold joint military exercises with South Korea next month and warned those drills could derail talks. North Korea has also warned of a possible end to its freeze on nuclear and long-range missile tests that has been in place since 2017. Trump has repeatedly upheld this as evidence of the success of his engagement with Kim. The February summit between Trump and Kim in Vietnam had collapsed after the leaders failed to reconcile differences between Washington’s demands for Pyongyang’s complete denuclearisation and North Korean demands for sanctions relief.

Why is North Korea conducting missile tests?

China's strategic and tactical missile force - China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force - has developed a new type of ballistic missile developed indigenously with complete intellectual property rights.

Reports say China has over 250 nuclear warheads, including Intercontinental ballistic missiles(ICBMs).

The missiles designed in China can carry out quick counter-attacks on land and at sea over middle and long distances.

"As a newcomer of the strategic deterrence and strike force system of the Chinese armed forces, the new medium-long range missile plays an important role in the killer weapons of the PLA combat troops," the Chinese army website said.

The newly-developed ballistic missiles with "conventional medium and long-range precision strikes against important land targets and large and medium-sized ships at sea," the Chinese army website declared.

The missiles designed in China can carry out quick counterattacks on land and at sea over middle and long distances

China's strategic and tactical missile force - China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force - has developed a new type of ballistic missile developed indigenously with complete intellectual property rights. Reports say China has over 250 nuclear warheads, including Intercontinental ballistic missiles(ICBMs). The missiles designed in China can carry out quick counter-attacks on land and at sea over middle and long distances. "As a newcomer of the strategic deterrence and strike force system of the Chinese armed forces, the new medium-long range missile plays an important role in the killer weapons of the PLA combat troops," the Chinese army website said. The newly-developed ballistic missiles with "conventional medium and long-range precision strikes against important land targets and large and medium-sized ships at sea," the Chinese army website declared.

Watch: China's rocket force commissions new ballistic missile

Saudi&nbsp;Arabia's air defence forces intercepted three ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh and other cities on Wednesday by Yemen's Houthis who have stepped up attacks recently, threatening to escalate a rivalry between&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia and Iran.

Three rockets were shot down above the capital and the southern cities of Jizan and Najran, according to state media and the&nbsp;Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen.

The Houthis claimed to have targeted the defence ministry in Riyadh and a&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Aramco distribution facility in Najran.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The attacks mark the fourth time in five months that missiles have flown over Riyadh, as the Houthis step up efforts to demonstrate they can reach the&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;capital.

Last month, one man was killed in Riyadh by debris after the military shot down a flurry of missiles, the first casualty of the Yemen war in the&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;capital.

Wednesday's missiles followed the downing of two Houthi drones earlier in the day in Jizan and the nearby&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;city of Abha, the coalition said. The Houthis said they were targeting an Aramco facility in Jizan, but the company said its facilities there were operating "normally and safely".

The company is building a 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Jizan, part of a new economic city on the Red Sea, which is expected to become fully operational in 2019.

Aramco was not immediately available to comment on the missiles.

The Houthis say their missile attacks on the kingdom are in retaliation for air raids on Yemen by the Western-backed coalition.

Their news agency SABA said four people were killed, including a woman and a child, and 10 others wounded in two air strikes on Wednesday in the Razih district of western Saada province. There was no immediate comment from the coalition.

Saudi&nbsp;Arabia and an alliance of Muslim states intervened in Yemen's civil war in 2015 to try and push back the Houthis after they drove the internationally-recognised government into exile in Riyadh.

The coalition has launched thousands of air strikes in Yemen which have hit schools, markets and hospitals, killing hundreds of people - though it says it does not target civilians.

The United Nations says 10,000 people have died in the three-year-old war, and three out of four Yemenis — 22 million civilians — need relief aid.

The coalition accuses the Houthis of being armed and supported by Iran - charges the group and Tehran deny.

Arms monitor Conflict Armament Research says it has evidence that the drones used on Wednesday and other Houthi kit were made in Iran and was not of indigenous design and construction "in contrast to Houthi statements".

Three rockets were shot down above the capital and the southern cities of Jizan and Najran, according to state media and the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia's air defence forces intercepted three ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh and other cities on Wednesday by Yemen's Houthis who have stepped up attacks recently, threatening to escalate a rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Three rockets were shot down above the capital and the southern cities of Jizan and Najran, according to state media and the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen. The Houthis claimed to have targeted the defence ministry in Riyadh and a Saudi Aramco distribution facility in Najran. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The attacks mark the fourth time in five months that missiles have flown over Riyadh, as the Houthis step up efforts to demonstrate they can reach the Saudi capital. Last month, one man was killed in Riyadh by debris after the military shot down a flurry of missiles, the first casualty of the Yemen war in the Saudi capital. Wednesday's missiles followed the downing of two Houthi drones earlier in the day in Jizan and the nearby Saudi city of Abha, the coalition said. The Houthis said they were targeting an Aramco facility in Jizan, but the company said its facilities there were operating "normally and safely". The company is building a 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Jizan, part of a new economic city on the Red Sea, which is expected to become fully operational in 2019. Aramco was not immediately available to comment on the missiles. The Houthis say their missile attacks on the kingdom are in retaliation for air raids on Yemen by the Western-backed coalition. Their news agency SABA said four people were killed, including a woman and a child, and 10 others wounded in two air strikes on Wednesday in the Razih district of western Saada province. There was no immediate comment from the coalition. Saudi Arabia and an alliance of Muslim states intervened in Yemen's civil war in 2015 to try and push back the Houthis after they drove the internationally-recognised government into exile in Riyadh. The coalition has launched thousands of air strikes in Yemen which have hit schools, markets and hospitals, killing hundreds of people - though it says it does not target civilians. The United Nations says 10,000 people have died in the three-year-old war, and three out of four Yemenis — 22 million civilians — need relief aid. The coalition accuses the Houthis of being armed and supported by Iran - charges the group and Tehran deny. Arms monitor Conflict Armament Research says it has evidence that the drones used on Wednesday and other Houthi kit were made in Iran and was not of indigenous design and construction "in contrast to Houthi statements".

Saudi Arabia says it shot down Houthi missiles over Riyadh and southern cities

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-wants-greater-missile-power-in-face-of-north-korean-threats-19799">South Korean protesters </a>clashed with thousands of police over the deployment of a defence system aimed at countering <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/in-photos-north-korea-signals-a-more-powerful-icbm-in-the-works-19490">North Korean missile attacks</a>, while China and the United States discussed options to rein in Pyongyang.

The<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-security-council-condemns-north-korean-missile-launch-calls-it-outrageous-19650"> United States wants the UN Security Council </a>to impose an oil embargo on North Korea, ban its exports of textiles and the hiring of North Korean labourers abroad, and subject leader Kim Jong Un to an asset freeze and travel ban, according to a draft resolution seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

Pressure from Washington has ratcheted up since North Korea conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test on Sunday. That test, along with a series of missile launches, showed Pyongyang was close to achieving its goal of developing a powerful nuclear weapon that could reach the United States.

Amid the rising tensions, Seoul installed the four remaining launchers of the U.S. anti-missile Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on a former golf course in the south early on Thursday. Two launchers had already been deployed.

More than 30 people were wounded when around 8,000 South Korean police broke up a blockade of about 300 villagers and civic groups opposed to the THAAD system deployment, fire officials said.

The decision to deploy the THAAD system has drawn strong objections from China, which believes its radar could be used to look deeply into its territory and will upset the regional security balance.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-now-threatens-north-korea-with-us-nuclear-might-18782">US President Donald Trump</a> has urged China, North Korea&#39;s biggest ally and trading partner, to do more to rein in its neighbour which has pursued its missile and nuclear weapons programmes in defiance of UN sanctions and international condemnation.

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said he had an executive order ready for Trump to sign that would impose sanctions on any country that trades with Pyongyang if the United Nations does not put additional sanctions on North Korea.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-china-plan-to-act-together-against-dangerous-north-korea-13536">Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping</a> committed on a phone call on Wednesday to &quot;take further action with the goal of achieving the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula&quot;, the White House said.

&quot;President Xi would like to do something. We&#39;ll see whether or not he can do it. But we will not be putting up with what&#39;s happening in North Korea,&quot; Trump told reporters, although he offered no specifics.

&quot;I believe that President Xi agrees with me 100 per cent,&quot; he said.

Asked whether he was considering a military response to North Korea, Trump said: &quot;Certainly, that&#39;s not our first choice, but we will see what happens.&quot;

Xi told the US president during their 45-minute call that the North Korean issue must be resolved through &quot;dialogue and consultation&quot;.

The United States had set aside, for now, plans to end a US trade agreement with South Korea, a senior administration official said on Wednesday. The trade issue is unrelated to North Korea but has been a source of tension between the two allies.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in spoke at a regional meeting in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok and agreed to try to persuade China and Russia to cut off oil to North Korea as much as possible, according to South Korean officials.

The European Union&#39;s foreign and defence ministers will discuss further sanctions for North Korea on Thursday, the bloc&#39;s top diplomat said ahead of&nbsp;EU ministers&#39; meeting in the Estonian capital.

However, sanctions have so far done little to stop North Korea boosting its nuclear and missile capacity as it faces off with Trump.

China and Russia have advocated a &quot;freeze for freeze&quot; plan, where the United States and South Korea would stop major military exercises in exchange for North Korea halting its weapons programmes, but neither side appears willing to budge.

South Korean Marines wrapped up a three-day firing drill on Thursday aimed at protecting its islands just south of the border with North Korea, while the air force will finish up a week-long drill on Friday.

North Korea says it needs to develop its weapons to defend itself against what it sees as U.S. aggression.

South Korea and the United States are technically still at war with North Korea after the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.

South Korean protesters clashed with thousands of police over the deployment of a defence system aimed at countering North Korean missile attacks, while China and the United States discussed options to rein in Pyongyang

South Korean protesters clashed with thousands of police over the deployment of a defence system aimed at countering North Korean missile attacks, while China and the United States discussed options to rein in Pyongyang. The United States wants the UN Security Council to impose an oil embargo on North Korea, ban its exports of textiles and the hiring of North Korean labourers abroad, and subject leader Kim Jong Un to an asset freeze and travel ban, according to a draft resolution seen by Reuters on Wednesday. Pressure from Washington has ratcheted up since North Korea conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test on Sunday. That test, along with a series of missile launches, showed Pyongyang was close to achieving its goal of developing a powerful nuclear weapon that could reach the United States. Amid the rising tensions, Seoul installed the four remaining launchers of the U.S. anti-missile Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on a former golf course in the south early on Thursday. Two launchers had already been deployed. More than 30 people were wounded when around 8,000 South Korean police broke up a blockade of about 300 villagers and civic groups opposed to the THAAD system deployment, fire officials said. The decision to deploy the THAAD system has drawn strong objections from China, which believes its radar could be used to look deeply into its territory and will upset the regional security balance. US President Donald Trump has urged China, North Korea's biggest ally and trading partner, to do more to rein in its neighbour which has pursued its missile and nuclear weapons programmes in defiance of UN sanctions and international condemnation. US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said he had an executive order ready for Trump to sign that would impose sanctions on any country that trades with Pyongyang if the United Nations does not put additional sanctions on North Korea. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping committed on a phone call on Wednesday to "take further action with the goal of achieving the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula", the White House said. "President Xi would like to do something. We'll see whether or not he can do it. But we will not be putting up with what's happening in North Korea," Trump told reporters, although he offered no specifics. "I believe that President Xi agrees with me 100 per cent," he said. Asked whether he was considering a military response to North Korea, Trump said: "Certainly, that's not our first choice, but we will see what happens." Xi told the US president during their 45-minute call that the North Korean issue must be resolved through "dialogue and consultation". The United States had set aside, for now, plans to end a US trade agreement with South Korea, a senior administration official said on Wednesday. The trade issue is unrelated to North Korea but has been a source of tension between the two allies. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in spoke at a regional meeting in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok and agreed to try to persuade China and Russia to cut off oil to North Korea as much as possible, according to South Korean officials. The European Union's foreign and defence ministers will discuss further sanctions for North Korea on Thursday, the bloc's top diplomat said ahead of EU ministers' meeting in the Estonian capital. However, sanctions have so far done little to stop North Korea boosting its nuclear and missile capacity as it faces off with Trump. China and Russia have advocated a "freeze for freeze" plan, where the United States and South Korea would stop major military exercises in exchange for North Korea halting its weapons programmes, but neither side appears willing to budge. South Korean Marines wrapped up a three-day firing drill on Thursday aimed at protecting its islands just south of the border with North Korea, while the air force will finish up a week-long drill on Friday. North Korea says it needs to develop its weapons to defend itself against what it sees as U.S. aggression. South Korea and the United States are technically still at war with North Korea after the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty.

South Korea deploys anti-missile system as US seeks tough North Korea sanctions

China warned that tensions on the Korean peninsula have reached &quot;tipping point&quot; after North Korea&nbsp;on Tuesday fired a ballistic missile over Japan, but said the United States and South Korea are partly to blame.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying urged all sides to avoid provocations and repeated Beijing&#39;s call for the North to suspend missile tests in return for a halt to US-South Korean military exercises.

The situation is &quot;now at a tipping point approaching a crisis. At the same time there is an opportunity to reopen peace talks,&quot; Hua told a regular news briefing.

&quot;We hope relevant parties can consider how we can de-escalate the situation on the peninsula and realise peace and stability on the peninsula,&quot; she added.

Sirens blared out early Tuesday and text messages were fired off across the north of Japan, warning people in the missile&#39;s flightpath to take cover.

Seoul and Washington last week began annual war games which China opposes and are viewed by nuclear-armed Pyongyang as a highly provocative rehearsal for invasion. The North always meets them with threats of strong military counteraction.

Hua said the United States and South Korea &quot;held one round after another of joint military exercises and they exerted military pressure on the DPRK (North Korea)&quot;.

&quot;After so many rounds and vicious cycles, do they feel they are nearer to peaceful settlement of the issue?

&quot;The facts have proven that pressure and sanctions cannot fundamentally solve the issue,&quot; she said, referring to UN sanctions imposed against North Korea.

China has backed the sanctions but also called for peace talks.

The remark was made after North Korea?on Tuesday fired a ballistic missile over Japan

China warned that tensions on the Korean peninsula have reached "tipping point" after North Korea on Tuesday fired a ballistic missile over Japan, but said the United States and South Korea are partly to blame. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying urged all sides to avoid provocations and repeated Beijing's call for the North to suspend missile tests in return for a halt to US-South Korean military exercises. The situation is "now at a tipping point approaching a crisis. At the same time there is an opportunity to reopen peace talks," Hua told a regular news briefing. "We hope relevant parties can consider how we can de-escalate the situation on the peninsula and realise peace and stability on the peninsula," she added. Sirens blared out early Tuesday and text messages were fired off across the north of Japan, warning people in the missile's flightpath to take cover. Seoul and Washington last week began annual war games which China opposes and are viewed by nuclear-armed Pyongyang as a highly provocative rehearsal for invasion. The North always meets them with threats of strong military counteraction. Hua said the United States and South Korea "held one round after another of joint military exercises and they exerted military pressure on the DPRK (North Korea)". "After so many rounds and vicious cycles, do they feel they are nearer to peaceful settlement of the issue? "The facts have proven that pressure and sanctions cannot fundamentally solve the issue," she said, referring to UN sanctions imposed against North Korea. China has backed the sanctions but also called for peace talks.

As North Korea fires missile over Japan, China says tensions reached 'tipping point'

China on Monday renewed its call for the United States and South Korea to suspend joint military drills as the two nations began annual war games that have infuriated nuclear-armed Pyongyang.

&quot;The current situation on the Korean peninsula is highly sensitive and fragile, which requires the directly concerned parties including South Korea and US to make joint efforts to ease the tensions,&quot; Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.&nbsp;

Beijing has pleaded for a resumption of long-dormant six-nation talks to peacefully resolve the nuclear crisis.

But its proposal for North Korea to suspend its arms programmes in return for the United States to halt military drills in the region has been ignored.

&quot;We don&#39;t think the joint exercise will be conducive to easing the current tensions. And we urge relevant parties to (seriously consider) the suspension-for-suspension proposal,&quot; Hua told a regular press briefing.&nbsp;

Tens of thousands of South Korean and US troops are taking part in the &quot;Ulchi Freedom Guardian&quot; joint military drills, a largely computer-simulated exercise that runs for two weeks in the South.

Around 17,500 US troops will participate in the drills, a cutback from last year.

When asked to comment on the troop cutback, Hua only said that China has &quot;noted the reduction of the US forces&quot;, but reiterated that military exercises would not help to reduce tensions.&nbsp;

The annual drills are viewed by Pyongyang as a highly provocative rehearsal for invasion, and it always meets them with threats of strong military counteraction.

Only weeks ago it said it was considering firing a salvo of missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam.

Pyongyang tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) last month that appeared to bring much of the US within range.

That sparked a grim warning by President Donald Trump that Washington could rain &quot;fire and fury&quot; on the North.

Leader Kim Jong-Un last week delayed the Guam strike plan, but warned it could go ahead depending on Washington&#39;s next move.

Beijing has pleaded for a resumption of long-dormant six-nation talks to peacefully resolve the nuclear crisis

China on Monday renewed its call for the United States and South Korea to suspend joint military drills as the two nations began annual war games that have infuriated nuclear-armed Pyongyang. "The current situation on the Korean peninsula is highly sensitive and fragile, which requires the directly concerned parties including South Korea and US to make joint efforts to ease the tensions," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. Beijing has pleaded for a resumption of long-dormant six-nation talks to peacefully resolve the nuclear crisis. But its proposal for North Korea to suspend its arms programmes in return for the United States to halt military drills in the region has been ignored. "We don't think the joint exercise will be conducive to easing the current tensions. And we urge relevant parties to (seriously consider) the suspension-for-suspension proposal," Hua told a regular press briefing. Tens of thousands of South Korean and US troops are taking part in the "Ulchi Freedom Guardian" joint military drills, a largely computer-simulated exercise that runs for two weeks in the South. Around 17,500 US troops will participate in the drills, a cutback from last year. When asked to comment on the troop cutback, Hua only said that China has "noted the reduction of the US forces", but reiterated that military exercises would not help to reduce tensions. The annual drills are viewed by Pyongyang as a highly provocative rehearsal for invasion, and it always meets them with threats of strong military counteraction. Only weeks ago it said it was considering firing a salvo of missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam. Pyongyang tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) last month that appeared to bring much of the US within range. That sparked a grim warning by President Donald Trump that Washington could rain "fire and fury" on the North. Leader Kim Jong-Un last week delayed the Guam strike plan, but warned it could go ahead depending on Washington's next move.

US-South Korea military drills not conducive towards easing tensions: China

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