North Korea launch of "new-type" missiles draws warning from Biden as he faces a "daunting challenge"

Beijing — North Korea test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday. It was Kim Jong Un's first such launch since President Joe Biden took office, testing what Kim's regime claimed were "new-type tactical guided projectiles" that hit their test targets off the country's eastern coast. 

The launches came just hours before Mr. Biden's first scheduled solo news conference as commander-in-chief, during which the president confirmed the projectiles were ballistic missiles and thus a violation of United Nations sanctions barring North Korea from testing such weapons.  The missiles flew approximately 270 miles and landed in the Sea of Japan. In its report on Friday claiming the missiles were a newly-developed variety, North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency said Kim himself did not observe the launch, which he has done for some previous missile tests.