North Korea missile launch; Netanyahu comeback; US election rulings

North Korea held a major missile launch, firing at least one in the direction of South Korea; Benjamin Netanyahu appears to be on the brink of returning to power in Israel; and two courts made rulings regarding the U.S. midterm elections. These stories highlight the Daily Rundown for Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022.

North Korea missile launch – Air raid sirens sounded on a South Korean island and residents there evacuated to underground shelters after North Korea fired 23 missiles Wednesday. According to some experts, that is a record for daily missile tests from the North.

One of the ballistic missiles was flying toward South Korea’s Ulleung Island before it eventually landed about 16 miles away from the rivals’ sea border. South Korea’s military said it was the first time a North Korean missile had landed so close to the sea border since the countries’ division in 1948.

“Any North Korean provocations that threaten our citizens are unacceptable and the government will do everything in its power to respond sternly and swiftly.” South Korean National Security Director Kim Sung-han said Wednesday. “It is also deplorable that North Korea carried out the provocation during the national mourning period.”

Netanyahu comeback – Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared headed toward a return to power. With about 80% of the votes in Israel’ latest election counted by Wednesday morning, Netanyahu and his right-wing Likud Party have been projected to win more than the 61-seat majority needed to form a government.

“I can tell you, we still need to wait for the real results, but one thing is already clear: our way, the way of the Likud, has proven itself,” Netanyahu said Wednesday. “If indeed the real election results reflect the exit polls, I will establish a nationalist government that will see to all Israeli citizens without any exceptions.”

U.S. election rulings – A week ahead of the midterm elections, judges have ruled on two pre-election controversies. In Arizona, a federal judge ordered armed members of a group monitoring ballot drop boxes in Arizona to stay at least 250 feet away from the boxes. The ruling followed complaints that people wearing masks and carrying guns were intimidating voters.

In Pennsylvania, the state Supreme Court ruled officials cannot count votes from mail-in or absentee ballots that lack accurate, handwritten dates on their return envelopes. The court directed county boards of elections to “segregate and preserve” those ballots.

While that ruling was unanimous, the justices were split 3-3 on whether making the envelope dates mandatory under state law would violate provisions of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law states that immaterial errors or omissions should not be used to prevent voting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.