North Korea fires a new-type tactical guided weapon from its town of Wonsan on July 25, 2019 (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The report came after Pyongyang fired two missiles from its east coast into the Sea of Japan on Thursday morning that Seoul says were a new type of short-range ballistic missile that flew about 600 kilometers. The test was aimed at sending a "solemn warning to the South Korean military warmongers who are running high fever in their moves to introduce the ultramodern offensive weapons into South Korea and hold military exercises, the Korean Central News Agency said. 

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an interview Thursday with Bloomberg Television that he hoped working-level talks between the US and North Korea would begin next month or so. He described Pyongyang’s act as more a negotiating tactic than something that would create a rupture or lead President Donald Trump to reverse his commitment to talks with Kim.