North Korea fires barrage of missiles in tit-for-tat move, to solidify claim of nuclear state

SEOUL – North Korea fired three ballistic missiles on Thursday night, bringing

its two-day tally to an unprecedented 31 missiles

as South Korea and the United States announced plans to extend a major joint military exercise.

Viewed as a tit-for-tat move to raise the stakes, Pyongyang is also believed to be solidifying its claim as a nuclear weapons state and intensifying anxiety during a time of mourning for the South.