The United States urged North Korea today not to "aggravate tensions" but did not confirm whether Pyongyang had launched a series of missiles.
"We are aware of possible missile launches by North Korea and are closely monitoring North Korea's activities and intentions," said US State Department spokesman Karl Duckworth. "North Korea should refrain from actions that aggravate tensions and focus on denuclearisation talks."
North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles today, South Korea's Defense Ministry said, in an act of defiance that further raised regional tensions already high because of Pyongyang's May 25th nuclear test. South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the missiles were "Scud-type," marking an escalation of recent sabre-rattling by the reclusive North, which has fired several non-ballistic, short-range missile since the May nuclear test.
South Korea's said the missiles were fired off its east coast over a period of around eight hours and that they had travelled for about 400 km and splashed into the sea. "It is a provocative act that clearly violates UN Security Council resolutions," Yonhap quoted a statement from South Korea's foreign mMinistry as saying.
"The government expresses deep regret over North Korea's continued acts to escalate tensions in Northeast Asia."
North Korea is thought to have more than 600 Scud-type missiles that include the Hwasong-5, with a range of about 300 km (185 miles) and the Hwasong-6, with a range of about 500 km (310 miles). North Korea is barred by UN resolutions from firing ballistic missile such as the Scud. A South Korean Defence Ministry official said more launches could come soon.
Mr Duckworth said the isolated, communist state should carry out its commitments under a September 19th, 2005, multi-party deal in which North Korea agreed to abandon all its nuclear programs in exchange for economic and diplomatic benefits.
"This type of North Korean behaviour is not helpful. What North Korea needs to do is to fulfil its international obligations and commitments," Mr Duckworth said. He said missile launches by North Korea would underscore the importance of fully implementing UN Security Council resolution 1718, passed after the North's first nuclear test in October 2006, and 1874, passed June 12th after its latest test.
Resolution 1874 bans the export of all weapons by North Korea, which Washington says will cut off a significant source of funds for Pyongyang. It also bans all financial transactions with North Korea that could contribute to its nuclear or ballistic missile programs.
Japan, a party to currently suspended six-nation talks aimed at coaxing the isolated North to give up its nuclear programme in return for aid and greater diplomatic recognition, was also quick to condemn Pyongyang's latest action.
"Japan strongly protests and regrets today's missile launches by North Korea as they are a serious act of provocation against the security of neighbouring countries, including Japan, and is against the resolution of the UN Security Council," Japan's foreign ministry said in a statement.
An anonymous South Korean official quoted by Yonhap said the North's latest move appeared to be intended to send a message to the United States.
"The missiles fired on July 2nd were analysed to be part of military drills, but today's missiles seem to have political purposes in that they were fired a day ahead of the US Independence Day," the agency quoted the official as saying.
Reuters