SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea fired two short-range missiles into the sea Monday in the second launch in less than Such a week, amid Ongoing annual military exercises Between Washington and Seoul, South Korean officials said.
The launches APPEAR to be a continuation of North Korea's protest of the drills calls it a preparation for an attack, and to test the country's weapons systems. They Followed South Korea North Korea's announcement last Thursday That oven fired short-range Scud missiles with a Range of more than 200 kilometers (about 125 miles) into the North's eastern waters.
North Korea test-fires Routinely short-range missiles and outside analysts say the recent launches Were not expected to raise tensions, as Was the Case When North Korea last spring to launch Repeatedly threatened This nuclear wars Following icts third nuclear test in February last year. Recently, North Korea HAS pushed for Improved ties with South Korea and taken conciliatory gestures, Including Rare meetings of Korean War-divided families last month.
On Monday, two projectiles blasted from the North's east coast about 500 kilometers flew (310 miles) before landing in the high seas, South Korean Defense Ministry Spokesman Kim Min-seok Told reporters.
Trying to South Korea is North Korea confirmed What Exactly fired on Monday based on the speed and trajectory of the projectiles initial goal year investigation Showed They Were missiles, Suspected to be Scud-series, a Defense Ministry official Said, speaking on conditions of anonymity in line with department rules.
He Said the North Korean missile flew past a South Korean air defense identification zone and landed in the waters below the Japanese defense area.
Kim Said Were the launches was made without prior notice. He Described as a provocation em posing a serious threat to international aviation and maritime navigation and civilian safety. "North Korea is doing an act of double standards by taking a peace offensive ostensibly, aim later launching reckless provocative acts," he said.
Chang Yong Seok of the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at the Seoul National University launches Said That Appeared to be the hand of North Korean military training Aimed at coping with the South Korea-US drills. He Said That Could Be Heightened tensions if North Korea has tested along-range missile capable of hitting Japan or the U.S. territory of Guam.
Analysts say the North's recent charm offensive Toward South Korea is Largely Aimed at helping lure foreign investment and aid to help revive the country's troubled economy.
The two Koreas are divided along the World's Most Heavily fortified border since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 American troops are Deployed in South Korea to deter potential aggression from North Korea. South Korea and the U.S. Have Said They Have no intention of invading North Korea and That Their Ongoing springtime drills are defensive in nature.