N. Korea test-fired short-range missiles—reports

Seoul – North Korea test-fired two short-range missiles off its west coast this week amid international alarm at its planned long-range rocket launch, South Korean newspapers said Friday.

The North fired what appeared to be two KN-01 ground-to-ship missiles with a range of up to 120 kilometers (75 miles) early Thursday from a missile base near the western port of Nampo, Chosun Ilbo newspaper said.

It quoted an unidentified Seoul government official as saying the launch was apparently aimed at improving the performance of the projectile and was unrelated to the rocket launch scheduled for next month.

The JoongAng Ilbo newspaper carried a similar report but said the launch was on Wednesday. South Korea’s defence ministry declined to confirm the reports.

The communist country frequently conducts such short-range tests but their timing sometimes coincides with periods of tension.

Analysts say new leader Kim Jong-Un has been trying to burnish his military credentials by conducting short-range missile tests since the death of his father.

The North reportedly test-fired two short-range missiles off its east coast on December 19, the same day it announced the death of leader Kim Jong-Il.

On January 13 South Korean officials said that the North fired three short-range missiles off its east coast in an apparently routine exercise.