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North Korea 'test fires missiles' | North Korea 'test fires missiles' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
North Korea has test-fired four short-range missiles, South Korea's Yonhap news agency has reported. | |
The agency quoted defence officials as saying the fourth was launched at around 1220GMT from Sinsang-ni. | |
Three surface-to-ship missiles had earlier been fired - two near the port of Wonsan and one more from Sinsang-ni. | |
The UN tightened sanctions against North Korea after it launched several missiles and carried out an underground nuclear test in May. | The UN tightened sanctions against North Korea after it launched several missiles and carried out an underground nuclear test in May. |
The first two missiles were fired from a base near Wonsan, and the third and fourth from nearby Sinsang-ni, the South Korean defence ministry said. | |
South Korean defence minister Won Tae-jae said the missiles were "surface-to-ship" ones and had been "fired into the East Sea", reported Yonhap. | |
South Korean media had reported that a missile launch was imminent. Previous North Korean warnings to shipping to avoid its coastal waters have been preludes to test launches. | South Korean media had reported that a missile launch was imminent. Previous North Korean warnings to shipping to avoid its coastal waters have been preludes to test launches. |
Nuclear fears | Nuclear fears |
Japanese and South Korean media have also reported that North Korea may be preparing to launch a long-range ballistic missile. | Japanese and South Korean media have also reported that North Korea may be preparing to launch a long-range ballistic missile. |
Such a rocket was launched in May, with Pyongyang saying it was intended to put a satellite into orbit. | Such a rocket was launched in May, with Pyongyang saying it was intended to put a satellite into orbit. |
There are fears that North Korea is trying to produce nuclear warheads small enough to put on long-range missiles. | There are fears that North Korea is trying to produce nuclear warheads small enough to put on long-range missiles. |
The North may be about to launch another long-range missile, media say | The North may be about to launch another long-range missile, media say |
After six-nation talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions broke down earlier this year, Pyongyang said it would "weaponise" its plutonium stocks and start enriching uranium for a light-water nuclear reactor. | After six-nation talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions broke down earlier this year, Pyongyang said it would "weaponise" its plutonium stocks and start enriching uranium for a light-water nuclear reactor. |
Enriched uranium can be used as fuel for a nuclear reactor or, if more-highly enriched, it can be used to make atomic bombs. | Enriched uranium can be used as fuel for a nuclear reactor or, if more-highly enriched, it can be used to make atomic bombs. |
Earlier this week, a North Korean ship suspected of transporting weapons to Burma turned around and appeared to head back to North Korea. | Earlier this week, a North Korean ship suspected of transporting weapons to Burma turned around and appeared to head back to North Korea. |
It has been under US surveillance for about a week and is the first vessel monitored under the new UN sanctions. | It has been under US surveillance for about a week and is the first vessel monitored under the new UN sanctions. |
Resolution 1874, passed on 12 June, allows for inspections of air, sea and land shipments in and out of North Korea suspected to be carrying banned arms and weapons-related material. | Resolution 1874, passed on 12 June, allows for inspections of air, sea and land shipments in and out of North Korea suspected to be carrying banned arms and weapons-related material. |
The North has said it will treat any interception of its ships as a declaration of war. | The North has said it will treat any interception of its ships as a declaration of war. |
The latest missile launches came hours after North and South Korean officials ended talks at the joint Kaesong industrial zone in North Korea without progress being made. | The latest missile launches came hours after North and South Korean officials ended talks at the joint Kaesong industrial zone in North Korea without progress being made. |
South Korean officials said they had rejected a Northern demand, made in earlier meetings, to pay higher wages and increased rent in the factory zone, located just across the border in the North. | South Korean officials said they had rejected a Northern demand, made in earlier meetings, to pay higher wages and increased rent in the factory zone, located just across the border in the North. |