A busy morning for North Korean state media.

A short thread on developments regarding North Korean weapons: KCNA says Kim Jong Un visited the DPRK Nuclear Weapons Institute, where he called for expanding the production of weapons-grade nuclear material.

He also “guided the work for mounting nuclear warheads on missiles."

North Korea has conducted a ballistic missile launch, says South Korea's military. The North Korean missile has already fallen, reports Japan's Coast Guard.

NEW: Biden says the US is *not* discussing holding joint nuclear exercises with South Korea, per White House radio pool. In an interview Monday, South Korea's president said the US+South Korea were in talks on a plan that would effectively amount to nuke-sharing.

Asked just now on the WH lawn about the talks mentioned in the report, Biden indicated they weren't happening.
voanews.com/a/yoon-us-sout…

Interesting comments here by Yoon Suk Yeol, who says Seoul and Washington are in talks to coordinate more closely on the operation of US nuclear forces.
n.news.naver.com/article/023/00… Yoon: "The nuclear weapons belong to the United States, but South Korea and the United States should jointly share information, plan, and train together. The United States also feels quite positively about this idea."
n.news.naver.com/article/023/00…

South Korea's military says it responded with fighter jets and attack helicopters after several suspected North Korean drones crossed into its airspace today.

https://twitter.com/GalloVOA/status/1607274270107013121

The first of the suspected North Korean drones crossed the MDL at 10:25am this morning in the Gimpo area, says @ROK_MND. It was followed by several more -- exact number not clear but less than 10.

China and Russia have vetoed a US-led push to impose more UN sanctions on North Korea over its latest ballistic missile launches
voanews.com/a/china-russia… .@USAmbUN: "The DPRK has now conducted six ICBM tests without any response from the Security Council, despite the commitment the Council made in Resolution 2397 to take further measures in the event of an additional ICBM launch."

Lots of missiles flying around today in Korea.

North Korea launched three; in response, the US and South Korea launched two of their own.

And it's not even noon! Of course, your regular reminder that South Koreans don't get worked up over North Korean missile launches. In fact, they barely even make the news at all here.
voanews.com/a/as-north-kor…

North Korea has conducted a projectile launch toward the sea off its east coast, South Korea's military says in an alert. (Not clear yet how many projectiles were launched)

Mark Lambert, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Japan and Korea, just wrapped up an online event with @ICASinc. Some substantive comments on North Korea, South Korea, and other regional issues. A short thread: On US willingness to engage in talks with North Korea, and frustration that the North hasn't responded:

"Chairman Un" may have reconsidered his Christmas gift, says Trump's national security adviser, but the US is still closely monitoring.

"I don't want to speculate about what will happen. But we have a lot of tools in our toolkit." "We will reserve judgment. But the United States will take action, as we do in these situations," O'Brien says.