North Korea fired four suspected short-range missiles into its eastern waters on Thursday, South Korean defence officials said, in an apparent effort to protest ongoing US-South Korean military exercises that Pyongyang calls a rehearsal for invasion.
The launches, however, weren't expected to raise tension as North Korean routinely tests short-range missiles and it has recently sought better ties with South Korea in what outside analysts say is an attempt to win badly-needed foreign investment and aid. The rival Koreas this month held their first reunions of Korean War-divided families in more than three years.
The projectiles that landed off the North's eastern coast were believed to be short-range missiles with a range of more than 200km. The South Korean defence ministry officials who discussed the launches spoke anonymously, citing ministry rules.
The officials said they were trying to learn exactly what North Korea launched and that South Korea has bolstered its monitoring on North Korea.
Yonhap news agency, citing an unidentified military official, reported the North Korean projectiles were suspected to be ballistic Scud missiles or an upgraded version of its newly developed surface-to-ship KN-02 missiles.
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US was closely monitoring the situation and urged North Korea to exercise restraint and take steps to improve relations with its neighbours.
Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korea studies at Seoul's Dongguk University, said the launches won't be a prelude to provocation. He said the North appears to have intended to protest the South Korean-US military drills that began on Monday or to grab international attention as there has been little progress over a push to resume disarmament-for-aid negotiations.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the North also carried out such launches to examine its weapons.
Last year, North Korea furiously reacted to the same South Korean-US military drills by issuing a torrent of fiery rhetoric and threats to launch nuclear missiles against Seoul and Washington. Last year's drills came after North Korea conducted its third nuclear test. The US took the unusual step of sending nuclear-capable bombers in a show of its resolve to protect its ally...
The launches, however, weren't expected to raise tension as North Korean routinely tests short-range missiles and it has recently sought better ties with South Korea in what outside analysts say is an attempt to win badly-needed foreign investment and aid. The rival Koreas this month held their first reunions of Korean War-divided families in more than three years.
The projectiles that landed off the North's eastern coast were believed to be short-range missiles with a range of more than 200km. The South Korean defence ministry officials who discussed the launches spoke anonymously, citing ministry rules.
The officials said they were trying to learn exactly what North Korea launched and that South Korea has bolstered its monitoring on North Korea.
Yonhap news agency, citing an unidentified military official, reported the North Korean projectiles were suspected to be ballistic Scud missiles or an upgraded version of its newly developed surface-to-ship KN-02 missiles.
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US was closely monitoring the situation and urged North Korea to exercise restraint and take steps to improve relations with its neighbours.
Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korea studies at Seoul's Dongguk University, said the launches won't be a prelude to provocation. He said the North appears to have intended to protest the South Korean-US military drills that began on Monday or to grab international attention as there has been little progress over a push to resume disarmament-for-aid negotiations.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the North also carried out such launches to examine its weapons.
Last year, North Korea furiously reacted to the same South Korean-US military drills by issuing a torrent of fiery rhetoric and threats to launch nuclear missiles against Seoul and Washington. Last year's drills came after North Korea conducted its third nuclear test. The US took the unusual step of sending nuclear-capable bombers in a show of its resolve to protect its ally...
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