North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile this week as a warning against continued US-South Korean military drills, state media said Friday.

The missile, launched Thursday, was intended to "give a stronger warning to the enemies intentionally escalating the tension," according to Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

US-SOUTH KOREA DRILLS DETER NORTH KOREA, PENTAGON CLAIMS HOURS AFTER NORTH KOREA LAUNCHES ICBM

It was the second ICBM launched by North Korea this year, and was fired just hours before South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The aggressive escalation brings attention to US messaging on the North Korean issue.

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The Department of Defense claimed Thursday its frequent joint military exercises with South Korea continues to deter North Korean attacks.

"I think what's important for people to understand is, one, deterrence continues to work," Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at a daily Department of Defense press briefing.

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"Despite launching missiles into the ocean, North Korea is not attacking, nor should they, and that the United States, Japan, South Korea and other allies and partners in the region will continue to work together to expand that deterrence and to keep our countries safe," Ryder stated.

A California man was arrested for allegedly possessing more than 900 child pornography images after his wife found a hidden camera in their home and contacted authorities.

Ryan Rovito, 34, was confronted by his wife on March 8 after she discovered the camera in their home's guest bathroom, according to the Redding Police Department. He admitted to knowing about the camera and said he would throw it away, but his wife had seized it and the hard drive it was connected to.

His wife contacted police over concerns that he had recorded their young children using the bathroom.

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Police obtained a search warrant for the devices and detectives performed a preliminary forensic analysis in which more than 900 images of child pornography and multiple videos from the bathroom camera were found.

The videos showed children and adults using the bathroom who appeared to be unaware that they were being recorded, police said.

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An arrest warrant was obtained on March 9 and police arrested Rovito during a traffic stop.

Ravito was charged in connection with the possession of child pornography and the surreptitious recording of an identifiable person who was undressed. He was booked into the Shasta County Jail.