North Korea Fires Two Short-range Missiles

North Korea has reportedly fired two short-range missiles amid high tensions and threats of war following Pyongyang's nuclear test in May.

Photo: North Korea Fires Two Short-range Missiles

The communist state launched the missiles on Thursday off its eastern port of Wonsan, AFP quoted a South Korean defense military official as saying. One was fired at 5:20 pm (0820 GMT) and the other at 6:00 pm, he said, PRESS TV reports.

The announcement came as a nuclear test, missile launches and threats from Pyongyang as well as tightened UN sanctions against North Korea have ratcheted up tensions with the country. North Korea had last fired a series of short-range missiles in the week after its May 25 nuclear test.

Earlier Thursday, a South Korean newspaper reported that North Korea appeared to be preparing to carry out within days a new barrage of missile tests, including short-range ballistic and ground-to-ship rockets.

The ballistic missiles were believed to be Scud-B missiles with a range of 340 kilometres or Rodong rockets, whose 1,300-kilometre range was likely to be shortened to 400 kilometres for the upcoming tests, the JoongAng Ilbo said, citing an unnamed intelligence source, Monsters and Critics reports.

Meanwhile The United States is seeking Chinese support to enforce the U.N. sanctions. Philip Goldberg, who is in charge of coordinating the implementation of sanctions against the North, was to meet with Chinese officials in Beijing on Thursday, The Associated Press reports.