Chile's Kast Unveils 40-Point Economic Reform Package to Boost Growth 
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to Exit Federal Government at End of May 
U.S. Weapons Delays to Europe Amid Ongoing Iran Conflict 
U.S.-Iran War Talks Resume Amid Economic Pressure and Ceasefire Uncertainty 
House Republicans Near Deal on FISA Extension with Limited Reforms 
Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Attempting to Block Hawaii's Climate Case Against Oil Giants 
Myanmar Grants Amnesty to Over 4,000 Prisoners Under New President Min Aung Hlaing 
IMF and World Bank Resume Ties with Venezuela, Opening Door to Billions in Funding 
Russia Unleashes Massive Drone and Missile Barrage on Ukraine, Killing Civilians 
Brazil's Former Intelligence Chief Alexandre Ramagem Released from U.S. Immigration Custody 
Trump Nominates Dr. Erica Schwartz as New CDC Director 
Trump Pushes for Lebanon-Israel Dialogue Amid Renewed Hezbollah Conflict 
Iran Offers Partial Strait of Hormuz Access Amid U.S. Peace Talks 
Russia Launches Deadly Missile and Drone Strikes Across Ukraine, Killing Three Including a Child 
Trump Administration Moves to Deport Iranian Academic Yousof Azizi Over Alleged Visa Fraud 
U.S. and Philippines to Build 4,000-Acre Tech Hub Under Pax Silica Initiative 
North Korea has fired artillery shots into the maritime buffer zone separating the isolated nation from South Korea. The artillery shots are the latest in Pyongyang’s provocative actions that have drawn the ire of South Korea.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement Monday that North Korea fired around 130 artillery rounds into the maritime buffer zone from two sites. One barrage was fired from North Korea’s east coast, and another series of shots from the west coast. The South Korean military said it was a “clear violation” of the 2018 agreement between North and South Korea that established the buffer zone to reduce tensions.
The North Korean military said the artillery shots aimed to be a warning against the ongoing South Korean artillery drills near the inland border area of Cheorwon. Pyongyang also accused South Korea of worsening tensions in the peninsula.
Seoul said that none of the shells crossed the Northern Limit Line, which is the de facto maritime border between the two nations. The military said it issued several warnings over North Korea’s artillery “barrage” but did not give any further details.
“Our military is strengthening its readiness posture in preparation for emergencies while tracking and monitoring related developments under close cooperation between South Korea and the United States,” said Seoul.
North Korean state media outlet KCNA reported that the artillery barrage was a “tit for tat” warning in response to South Korea firing dozens of projectiles earlier. Pyongyang has repeatedly fired artillery into the buffer zone in recent months, along with a record number of missile launches.
Pyongyang has since ordered new artillery firings on Tuesday into the sea for the second consecutive day. The new artillery barrages are in protest of the drills conducted by Seoul and Washington in the inland border region. The spokesman for the North Korean military said the latest planned barrage was meant to be a “warning” to South Korea and that it was a response to South Korea’s artillery exercises.
South Korea and the US are currently conducting live-fire drills involving multiple rocket-launching systems and howitzers in two separate testing grounds in Cheorwon, which started on Monday and will continue until Wednesday.
