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South Korea 'deploys warships to track North missiles' South Korea 'deploys warships to track North missiles'
(35 minutes later)
South Korea has deployed two warships with missile-defence systems, reports say, a day after the North apparently moved a missile to its east coast.South Korea has deployed two warships with missile-defence systems, reports say, a day after the North apparently moved a missile to its east coast.
Military officials told South Korean media the two warships would be deployed on the east and west coasts.Military officials told South Korean media the two warships would be deployed on the east and west coasts.
Seoul has played down the North's missile move, saying it may be for a test rather than a hostile act.Seoul has played down the North's missile move, saying it may be for a test rather than a hostile act.
In recent weeks, the North has ramped up its rhetoric and made specific threats to target US territory.In recent weeks, the North has ramped up its rhetoric and made specific threats to target US territory.
One of the targets named by Pyongyang was the Pacific island of Guam, which hosts a US military base.One of the targets named by Pyongyang was the Pacific island of Guam, which hosts a US military base.
On Thursday, the US confirmed it would deploy a missile-defence system to Guam in response to the threats.On Thursday, the US confirmed it would deploy a missile-defence system to Guam in response to the threats.
"The moves that we have been making are designed to ensure and to reassure the American people and our allies that we can defend the United States," said state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland."The moves that we have been making are designed to ensure and to reassure the American people and our allies that we can defend the United States," said state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.
South Korea's foreign minister told MPs on Thursday that the North had moved a missile to the east coast, which is the location for previous military tests.South Korea's foreign minister told MPs on Thursday that the North had moved a missile to the east coast, which is the location for previous military tests.
Unconfirmed reports on Friday said the North had moved two missiles, and had loaded them on to launchers.Unconfirmed reports on Friday said the North had moved two missiles, and had loaded them on to launchers.
The missiles are thought to be mid-range Musudans, which have the capacity to reach has far as Guam. The missiles are thought to be mid-range Musudans, which have the capacity to reach as far as Guam.
Unnamed officials told the South Korean news agency Yonhap that two warships equipped with Aegis defence systems would monitor the situation. The South Korean news agency Yonhap said that two warships equipped with Aegis defence systems would monitor the situation.
"If the North fires off a missile, we will trace its trajectory," Yonhap quoted the official as saying. "If the North fires off a missile, we will trace its trajectory," Yonhap quoted an official as saying.
Despite North Korea's belligerent rhetoric, it has not taken direct military action since 2010, when it shelled a South Korean island and killed four people.
But in recent weeks it has threatened nuclear strikes and attacks on the US and South Korea.
It has announced a formal declaration of war on the South, and pledged to reopen a mothballed nuclear reactor in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.
Many of North Korea's angry statements have cited the annual military exercises between US and South Korean forces as provocation.
The US flew nuclear-capable B-2 and B-52 bombers over the South as part of the drill, and has since deployed warships with missile-defence systems to the region.
North Korea's official media say the US is surrounding the peninsula with a nuclear threat from land, sea and air.
In recent weeks the North has also shut down an emergency military hotline between Seoul and Pyongyang and stopped South Koreans from working at a joint industrial complex in the North.
The Kaesong complex, one of the last remaining symbols of co-operation between the neighbours, is staffed mainly by North Koreans but funded and managed by South Korean firms.