Missile test propels North Korea to top of Biden's foreign agenda

FILE PHOTO: A North Korea flag flutters next to concertina wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia March 9, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea's claim on Friday that it had launched a new type of tactical short-range ballistic missile highlighted military advances by the nuclear-armed state and propelled it to the top of new U.S. President Joe Biden's foreign policy agenda.

The United States condemned Thursday's launches, which came hours before Biden held his first White House press conference since taking office in January.