North Korea snaps back at Biden over criticism of missile launches

North Korea on Saturday snapped back at President Joe Biden’s criticism of its ballistic missile tests, calling his comments a provocation and encroachment on the North’s right to self-defense and vowing to continuously expand its "most thoroughgoing and overwhelming military power."

Experts say the flight data released by South Korea’s military and North Korea’s own description of the tests indicated that the North tested a new solid-fuel weapon that is designed to evade missile defense systems and is potentially nuclear-capable. The launches showed how the North continues to expand its military capabilities while nuclear negotiations with the United States remain stalled. They also underscored the growing threat such short-range weapons pose to U.S. allies South Korea and Japan, which host a combined 80,000 U.S. troops as the core of America’s military presence in the region. Biden was restrained as he admonished North Korea for the launches, which were a violation of U.N. sanctions against the North.