North Korea test fires 2 more missiles, South Korea answers with landmark weapons tests of its own

Seoul, South Korea — North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into waters off its eastern coast on Wednesday afternoon, two days after claiming to have tested a new long-range cruise missile in a resumption of its weapons displays after a six-month lull. South Korea appeared to respond to the latest provocation with landmark weapons tests of its own just hours later, ratcheting up tension on the nuclear-armed Korean Peninsula where thousands of American troops are based. 

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the North launched the two missiles on Wednesday from a site in the center of the country. 

Hours later, South Korea said it had successfully carried out a first-ever test of an underwater-launched missile, making the country one of just seven in the world with the proven capability to fire a ballistic missile from a submarine, along with the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and India.