DPRK fires 4 short-range projectiles: Yonhap

SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired four short-range projectiles, which were estimated to be launched from 300-milimeter multiple-rocket launchers, an official at South Korea's Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

The official told Xinhua via telephone that the DPRK fired two short-range projectiles at 7:30 a.m. and 7:40 am each from Mount Myohyang in DPRK's Pyongan Province into the easterly direction.

The official said the launches seemed to fail as the projectiles flew for only several seconds.

Pyongyang launched two more short-range projectiles, which flew around 210 km and 130 km each, at 5:50 p.m. and 6 pm. respectively from the same region into the easterly direction.

The projectile with a range of 210 km was believed to land in eastern waters, and the other was estimated to fall in the DPRK's territory.

The South Korean military reportedly said those projectiles may be fired from the 300-millimeter multiple-rocket launchers termed by South Korea as KN-09 with a range of 150-160 km.

It was the first time that those projectiles from the KN-09 flew more than 200 km. The test-firing was believed to have increased the range of the KN-09.

It was DPRK's 16th launch of missiles or artillery shells this year.

The DPRK fired a short-range ballistic missile, believed to be Scud, into the eastern waters on July 26, according to South Korean military.

The DPRK has launched more than 100 short- and medium-range projectiles, including Scud and Rodong missiles, artillery shells and FROG rockets, since Feb. 21.

The two Koreas exchanged artillery fires in the disputed western sea waters on May 22, two months after trading hundreds of artillery shells in late March.