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N Korea fires 'short-range missiles' N Korea fires 'short-range missiles'
(about 1 hour later)
North Korea has fired two suspected short-range missiles into the sea, South Korea says, in what is apparently latest in a series of recent tests. North Korea has fired two suspected short-range missiles into the sea, South Korea says, in the fourth such test in two weeks.
The projectiles were launched from a western province into the Sea of Japan, a spokesman for the joint chiefs of staff in Seoul was quoted as saying. The projectiles were launched from a western province into waters east of the Korean peninsula in the early hours of Wednesday, officials said.
The move follows a recent visit by the Chinese president to South Korea, with whom the North is technically at war. The move follows a recent visit by the Chinese president to South Korea.
North Korea is believed to have carried out similar tests in June and July. Chinese leaders traditionally go to Pyongyang before Seoul, and the visit has been seen as a snub to North Korea.
'Snub by Beijing' "North Korea fired two short-range missiles presumed to be Scud-type ones... from a site in Hwanghae province in a north-easterly direction," South Korean spokesman Um Hyo-sik was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.
"North Korea fired two short-range missiles presumed to be Scud-type ones... from a site in Hwanghae province in a north-easterly direction", South Korean spokesman Um Hyo-sik was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.
"They flew some 500km (310 miles) and landed in international waters," he added, without giving further details."They flew some 500km (310 miles) and landed in international waters," he added, without giving further details.
Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye reaffirmed their opposition to North Korean nuclear tests during talks in Seoul. North Korea has carried out several such launches in recent months, including four within the last two weeks.
It is the first time a Chinese leader has visited Seoul before Pyongyang, which is being seen as a snub to the North. China - North Korea's biggest trading ally - is the nation believed to wield the most influence over the government in Pyongyang. It has interspersed these launches with apparently conciliatory moves towards the South, including a recent offer to suspend provocative military activities and cross-border slander.
Previous similar offers have come to nothing and South Korea has dismissed this latest offer.
The latest launch comes days after Chinese President Xi Jinping and his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye reaffirmed their opposition to North Korean nuclear tests during talks in Seoul.
China - North Korea's biggest trading ally - is the nation believed to wield the most influence over the government in Pyongyang. Mr Xi's decision to visit Seoul first is being seen as a message to North Korea.
To date North Korea has carried out three nuclear tests and is believed to be working on long-range missile development.To date North Korea has carried out three nuclear tests and is believed to be working on long-range missile development.
Talks between its leaders and other nations on ending its nuclear ambitions have been stalled for years.Talks between its leaders and other nations on ending its nuclear ambitions have been stalled for years.
North Korea has also in recent weeks alternated between threatening the South and offering apparent concessions. North and South Korea, meanwhile, remain technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace deal.
The two nations remain technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace deal.