After weeks of relative calm, North Korea has carried out three missile test launches, with US and South Korean officials describing them as "ballistic missiles" fired toward the East Sea, not far from Japan. All three were described as failing.

One of the three missiles was said to have blown up during its launch, while the other two failed in-flight. US officials say none of the missiles posed any threat to North America at any point. Nor, indeed, are they said to have done any damage.

These are the first North Korean tests since early August, and came after some US officials were expressing hope that the new-found calm could lead to an attempt at diplomacy. These were not, apparently, the launches North Korea had previously talked of carrying out near Guam, which appear to still be on-hold indefinitely.