WORLD> Asia-Pacific
DPRK test-fires four short-range missiles off east coast
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-02 20:09

SEOUL:The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired the fourth short-range missile in the day off its east coast on Thursday evening, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.

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DPRK fired the fourth missile at 09:20 p.m. (1220 GMT), after three missiles fired at 5:20 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 07:50 p.m. respectively from Sinsang-ni between the eastern coastal city of Hamhung and Wonsan, the report quoted a South Korean official as saying.

According to South Korean defense ministry spokesman Won Tae- jae, DPRK fired the short-range missiles off its east coast on Thursday, just hours after the DPRK ended its talks with South Korea without progress over their joint industrial park.

The missiles, which appeared to be surface-to-ship ones, "were fired into the East Sea (Sea of Japan)," Won Tae-jae said.

Other officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the missiles landed about 100 kilometers off the coast, where the North had imposed a June 25-July 10 maritime ban for a military drill.

The firing is the first military action Pyongyang has taken since the UN Security Council passed a resolution bolstering sanctions on DPRK for its May 25 nuclear test.

Within several days of the nuclear explosion in May, Pyongyang fired a string of short-range missiles off its east coast. South Korea believed that Pyongyang is also preparing to test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile.