North Korea Launches Several Missiles Off Its Eastern Coast
South Korea's Defense Ministry says North Korea launched five missiles off its eastern coast Saturday, following similar tests earlier this week.
The Yonhap news agency quotes military officials as saying the missiles appear to be a type of short-range Scud missile.
The missiles were fired over several hours from Saturday morning, with the fifth missile launched in the afternoon.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff released a statement saying the military is fully ready to counter any North Korean threats and provocations.
Japan's Foreign Ministry has condemned the latest missile launches as a serious act of provocation against the security of neighboring countries.
North KoreaThe United States and North Korea's neighbors have described four North Korean missile tests Thursday as provocative, and called on the communist country to return to negotiations on de-nuclearization.
The the latest missile tests are taking place as the United States begins to celebrate is July 4 Independence Day holiday.
The missile tests add to the tensions on the Korean peninsula over North Korea's May 25 nuclear test and an April ballistic missile launch.
Britain's ambassador to Pyongyang Peter Hughes said Friday there was no evidence that North Korea was preparing to launch a long-range missile.
Japan defense officials last month said Pyongyang was preparing to launch a long-range missile capable of reaching the U.S. state of Hawaii around the U.S. Independence Day holiday.
SOURCE: BLACKLISTED NEWS
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