North Korea test-fires 'ballistic' missiles
The North has recently launched dozens of short-range rockets North Korea has test-fired what appeared to be two medium-range ballistic missiles, just hours after the US, South Korea and Japan met in the Netherlands to discuss the country.
Analysts say the launch, if confirmed, would be a major escalation from the short-range rockets Pyongyang has fired in recent weeks.
North Korea has been angered by annual US-South Korea military exercises.
Washington and Seoul quickly condemned the North's actions.
Ballistic missile launches by Pyongyang are banned by the United Nations.
The South Korean defence ministry said the Nodong-class missiles were fired from the Suckon region north of Pyongyang and flew for about 650km (400 miles) before falling into the sea off the east coast.
The ministry described it as a "grave provocation".
A spokesman said it was the North's first launch of a Nodong missile since 2009.
The missiles have a range of more than 1,000km and could reach parts of Japan.
Correspondents say the North's arsenal of about 300 Nodong missiles could in theory be fitted with nuclear warheads, although Pyongyang currently lacks the expertise to miniaturise such weapons.
'Provocative'The US State Department also said Wednesday's launches represented a "troubling and provocative escalation".
"We are closely co-ordinating with our allies and partners, including in the UN Security Council, to take the appropriate measures in response to this latest provocation and to address the threat to global security posed by the DPRK's [North Korea's] nuclear and ballistic missile programmes," a statement said.
"We urge North Korea to exercise restraint and refrain from further threatening actions."
Earlier, US President Barack Obama met his South Korean counterpart, Park Geun-hye, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the nuclear summit in The Hague.
Mr Obama pledged his "unwavering commitment" to them in the face of North Korea's nuclear programme.
North Korea has fired dozens of short-range rockets over the past month.
Pyongyang says its rocket tests are self-defence exercises and says the military drills by Washington and Seoul are invasion preparations.
No comments:
Post a Comment