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North Korea test-fires missiles in defiance of UN sanctions North Korea test-fires missiles in defiance of UN sanctions
(about 1 hour later)
North Korea has test-fired two mid-range ballistic missiles within hours of each other in defiance of UN sanctions, says South Korea. North Korea has test-fired two mid-range ballistic missiles from its eastern coast, says South Korea.
Military officials in the South said both were powerful Musudan missiles. The first launch was considered to have failed, travelling about 150km (90 miles) before landing in the sea.
The first launch failed while the success of the second was still being analysed. The second, launched hours later, flew about 400km. Military officials in the South said both were intermediate-range Musudan missiles.
North Korea is banned by UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology because of its nuclear weapons programme. A confirmed successful test would mark a step forward for North Korea after four failed launches in recent months.
Four other missiles tested in the last two months are reported to have either exploded mid-air or crashed. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Seoul and the US were "carrying out an in-depth analysis" of the second launch, and did not say whether it was considered a success.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said if the latest test was confirmed to be of a ballistic missile, it "clearly cannot be tolerated". North Korea, which is developing nuclear weapons, is banned by UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology.
Surrounding countries had detected preparations for a launch in the past few days and warned that it was about to happen. South Korea's presidential office announced that it would hold a national security meeting to discuss the launch.
Japan had said it would shoot down the missile if it entered Japanese airspace. 'Provocative actions'
'Determination' The US State Department has strongly condemned the launches, with spokesman John Kirby saying the tests would only increase efforts to stop North Korea's weapons programme.
"We intend to raise our concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding [North Korea] accountable for these provocative actions," said Mr Kirby in a statement.
North American Defense Command (Norad), which tracked the missiles, determined they did not pose a threat to North American territories.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said such tests "clearly cannot be tolerated".
The Musudan is believed to have a range of about 3,000km (1,800 miles), enough for it to hit South Korea, Japan and the US territory of Guam in the Western Pacific.The Musudan is believed to have a range of about 3,000km (1,800 miles), enough for it to hit South Korea, Japan and the US territory of Guam in the Western Pacific.
But North Korea is thought to have dozens of them but has never successfully tested one. North Korea is thought to have dozens of them but has never successfully tested one.
The BBC's Steve Evans in Seoul says failure of the first missile illustrates the technological difficulties North Korea faces as it develops a nuclear arsenal and the means to attack distant targets. The four other missiles tested in the last two months either exploded mid-air or crashed.
Repeated testing also illustrates a determination to succeed, he adds. The BBC's Steve Evans in Seoul says the repeated the failures illustrate both the technological difficulties North Korea faces as it develops deliverable nuclear weapons, and its determination to succeed.
Surrounding countries had detected preparations for a launch in the past few days and warned that it was about to happen.