N.Korea fires five short-range missiles

• Source: Global Times
• [08:57 October 13 2009]
• Comments

North Korea test-fired five short-range missiles off its northeast coast Monday, a South Korean official said.

The official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, also said the North has warned fishing boats to stay clear of parts of its coast between October 10-20 – indicating more possible launches.

The Yonhap News Agency said the North fired five KN-02 missiles with ranges of 120 kilometers from mobile launchers.

The launches were the first reported since early July, when the North fired four short-range missiles believed to be surface-to-ship types.

It followed these with seven longer-range ballistic missiles July 4, apparently to mark US Independence Day, attracting sharp criticism from the UN.

The North has frequently launched short-range missiles off its coasts in recent years. South Korean defense officials described these as part of military exercises, but the launches are sometimes timed to make a political point.

North Korea is under pressure to return to the Six-Party nuclear disarmament talks. It quit the forum in April and staged its second nuclear test in May.

Last week Pyongyang told visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao it was willing to return to the talks but only after direct negotiations with the US.

AFP