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North Korea 'test-fires missiles' | North Korea 'test-fires missiles' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
North Korea has test-fired two short-range missiles off its west coast, South Korean officials say. | |
They are believed to be ground-to-ship or ship-to-ship missiles with a range of some 100km (60 miles), they say. They landed in North Korean waters. | |
Pyongyang test-fired at least one short-range missile at the end of May - off its east coast - as part of what appeared to be military exercises. | Pyongyang test-fired at least one short-range missile at the end of May - off its east coast - as part of what appeared to be military exercises. |
North Korea's military programme is a major source of international concern. | North Korea's military programme is a major source of international concern. |
"I believe North Korea launched two missiles into the West Sea today [Thursday] - one in the morning and the other in the afternoon," a South Korean intelligence official is quoted as saying by South Korean news agency Yonhap. | |
Thursday's suspected test off the west coast may have been carried out after a similar test failed on 25 May, when the North test-fired missiles off the east coast, a South Korean official was quoted as saying earlier. | |
"It's seen as the North firing the missile that it didn't launch at that time," he said. | "It's seen as the North firing the missile that it didn't launch at that time," he said. |
The US condemned the launches, describing them as "not constructive". | |
"The United States and our allies believe that North Korea should refrain from testing missiles," said National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe. | |
The North "should focus on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and fulfil its obligations" under a February agreement to close down its only nuclear reactor, he added. | |
Missed deadline | Missed deadline |
South Korea confirmed at least one missile was test-fired into the Sea of Japan on 25 May, although earlier reports suggested several had been fired. | South Korea confirmed at least one missile was test-fired into the Sea of Japan on 25 May, although earlier reports suggested several had been fired. |
It coincided with the launch of South Korea's first destroyer equipped with US-supplied high-tech Aegis radar. | It coincided with the launch of South Korea's first destroyer equipped with US-supplied high-tech Aegis radar. |
Despite international alarm at the North's long-range missile and nuclear tests last year, the US and Pyongyang's regional neighbours played down the May test. | Despite international alarm at the North's long-range missile and nuclear tests last year, the US and Pyongyang's regional neighbours played down the May test. |
The US state department described it as a "routine exercise" that would not affect six-party talks regarding the North's nuclear programme. | |
The tests come weeks after the North missed the February deadline to shut down its Yongbyon nuclear reactor in return for economic and energy aid. | |
Pyongyang has refused to move forward on the deal until it has access to North Korean funds in a Macau bank, which had been frozen amid claims the money was linked to counterfeiting and money-laundering. | Pyongyang has refused to move forward on the deal until it has access to North Korean funds in a Macau bank, which had been frozen amid claims the money was linked to counterfeiting and money-laundering. |