Pentagon to Develop Previously Banned Missiles.

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* Now that the United States has withdrawn from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia, the Pentagon plans to move forward with a new set of conventional missiles that were previously prohibited by the agreement, according to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.

The INF Treaty was brokered in 1987 in the waning years of the Cold War. It prohibited the United States and Russia from deploying land-based nuclear or conventional missiles --both ballistic and cruise--with ranges of 500 to 5,500 km. However, Washington has accused Moscow of cheating, and in response the U.S. withdrew from the arms pact effective Aug. 2.

"This withdrawal is a direct result of Russia's sustained and repeated violations of the treaty over many years and multiple presidential administration," Esper said in a statement.

The Russian government has denied that it is in violation of the agreement.

"The facts are clear: the Russian Federation is producing and fielding an offensive capability that was...