"North Korea Conducts Cruise Missile Test off East Coast"

North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles off its east coast, marking its second such launch in less than a week. The missiles, launched at around 8 a.m., are being analyzed by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities. While officials in Washington and Seoul have not detected signs of imminent military action, North Korea's recent provocative steps, including the testing of a new strategic cruise missile, indicate heightened confrontation with the United States and its allies. This comes amid denunciations of U.S. and South Korean military drills and a pledge to boost tactical cooperation with China following a recent visit by a Chinese delegation to Pyongyang.