North Korea 'fires seven missiles off east coast'

North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles off its eastern coast today, South Korea said, a violation of UN resolutions and an apparent message of defiance to the United States on its Independence Day.

North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles off its eastern coast today, South Korea said, a violation of UN resolutions and an apparent message of defiance to the United States on its Independence Day.

The launches, which came two days after North Korea fired four short-range cruise missiles, will further escalate tensions in the region as the US tries to muster support for tough enforcement of the latest UN Security Council resolution imposed on the communist regime for its May nuclear test.

South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said three missiles were fired early today, a fourth around noon and three more in the afternoon. The Defence Ministry said that the missiles were ballistic and are believed to have flown more than 250 miles.

“Our military is fully ready to counter any North Korean threats and provocations based on strong South Korea-US combined defense posture,” the joint chiefs of staff said in a statement.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency quoted military officials as saying the missiles appeared to be a type of Scud missile. North Korea’s Scuds are considered short-range, the South’s military said.

But Yonhap also said that it was possible they could have been longer-range Rodong missiles fired a shorter distance.

Scud missiles have a range of up to 300 miles, which could hit most of South Korea. The Rodong has a range of up to 800 miles, putting most parts of Japan within striking distance.

North Korea is not allowed to fire Scuds, medium-range missiles or long-range missiles. They are banned under UN resolutions, including Resolution 1874 passed after North Korea’s May 25 nuclear test, that prohibit any launch using ballistic missile technology.

Thursday’s launches, on the other hand, did not violate the resolution as they were cruise missiles rather than ballistic, according to South Korea’s foreign ministry.

Ballistic missiles are guided during their ascent out of the atmosphere but fall freely when they descend. Cruise missiles fly low and straight to their target.

The North has a record of timing missile tests for the US national day, which falls today.

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