North Korea Tests Ballistic Missiles, Raising Concerns in South Korea On Saturday, North Korea conducted tests on two ballistic missiles, raising concerns about the country’s weapons program and escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected the launches from the eastern town of Tongchang-ri. According to the JCS, one missile was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a range of around 620 miles, while the other was a shorter-range ballistic missile. Both missiles were fired into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. South Korea’s military condemned the launches as a “clear violation” of UN Security Council resolutions and called on North Korea to immediately cease its provocations. The United States Indo-Pacific Command also confirmed the missile tests and condemned them as “destabilizing.” The command stated that the launches highlighted the threat posed by North Korea’s “unlawful weapons program.” The missile tests come just three days after Pyongyang launched a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile that landed within Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). That launch prompted Japan to issue a rare evacuation warning for its citizens. North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests this year, including the launch of an ICBM capable of reaching the mainland United States. The tests have raised concerns about the country’s intentions and have led to calls for increased international pressure on Pyongyang. South Korea and the United States have responded to North Korea’s provocations by strengthening their joint military exercises and cooperating with other countries in the region. However, it remains unclear how such measures will deter North Korea from further missile tests or other provocative actions. The missile tests have also reignited debate in South Korea about the country’s defense capabilities and the need for a stronger response to North Korea’s threats. Some experts argue that South Korea should develop its own nuclear weapons program as a deterrent, while others believe that the country should focus on strengthening its conventional forces and intelligence gathering.False! NPS Dismisses Reports of Kenyan Police Deaths in HaitiFalse! NPS Dismisses Reports of Kenyan Police Deaths in Haiti The National Police Service (NPS) has refuted online claims that Kenyan officers serving in a UN-backed peacekeeping mission in Haiti have been killed. The service denounced these reports as false. The false information circulated widely over the weekend, including an image of Kenyan police patrolling in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital, accompanied by text stating that the officers had died. “Seven Kenyan policemen killed in Haiti here (President William Ruto) God will never forgive you,” the text read. However, on Monday morning, the NPS debunked the image as a fake. No further details about the mission or the status of the Kenyan troops were provided. On June 25, the initial group of approximately 400 Kenyan police arrived in Haiti. President William Ruto had formally sent them off in Nairobi the day before, describing the mission as a “historic” act of solidarity. Additional police personnel from Kenya and other countries are expected to join the mission.