North Korea test-fires missiles
25/05/2007 14:06  - (SA)  

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Seoul - North Korea test-fired several short-range missiles on Friday, South Korea's National Intelligence Service said.

"The latest firing of missiles by North Korea is believed to be part of the North's usual military training which has been carried out every year," said a spokesperson for the spy agency, without elaborating.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Headquarters also said the launches were part of customary training drills.

"The firing of short-range missiles is believed to be part of usual military training that the North has been carrying out in the West Sea and the East Sea (Sea of Japan)," it said.

"Additional checking is necessary for further details."

The launches were the first since the North last July test-launched seven missiles, including its Taepodong-2 that in theory could reach the US west coast.

Japan's public broadcaster NHK quoted a Japanese government source as saying that the latest incident seemed less serious than last July, and more in line with when North Korea tested a short-range missile in May 2005.

"They were not ballistic missiles, like Taepodong-2 and Nodong. They appear to be shorter range missiles," it quoted the government source as saying.

"They should not pose immediate security threats to Japan."

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