SKorean military on watch for NKorean missile launches

South Korea’s military was on watch for further tests on Sunday after North Korea launched seven ballistic missiles in a show of firepower which earned international criticism. The missiles — which the North is banned from firing under UN resolutions — were launched into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on Saturday in an act of defiance apparently timed for the US Independence Day holiday. They further fuelled regional tensions after its nuclear test in May. “There are no signs of preparations for additional missile launches today as yet but we are closely watching,” a defence ministry spokesman told AFP.

The launches came as Washington seeks support for tough enforcement of United Nations sanctions aimed at shutting down Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes. It was the biggest salvo of ballistic weaponry since the North fired a long-range Taepodong-2 and six smaller missiles on US Independence Day in 2006.

Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said they had a range of between 400 and 500 km but declined to say what type they were. Yonhap news agency said they were either Scuds,or Rodong-1 missiles whose maximum range of 1,300 km had been shortened. The North on Thursday test-fired four short-range missiles with a range of 120 km into the Sea of Japan.