When the missiles were launched on Thursday, Stephen Biegun, Mr. Trump’s point man on North Korea, was in South Korea for talks on how to bring the North back to negotiations. Mr. Biegun had been expected to discuss food aid that South Korea plans to provide to the North as an incentive. A North Korea expert in Seoul, Lee Byong-chul, said the timing was no coincidence. [President Trump supports food aid for North Korea, the South says.] Mr. Trump has repeatedly cited Mr. Kim’s moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests as a reason to continue talks with North Korea.

Source: International New York Times May 09, 2019 08:03 UTC