[Courtesy of Xinhua News]
North Korea fired five short-range projectiles into the sea Monday in a show of force, military officials said, after its leader Kim Jong-un vowed to push for the launch of more rockets capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
The South's defense ministry said five "short-range projectiles" were fired from a base near North Korea's northeastern port of Hamhung from 3:19 pm (0619 GMT) and fell in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) after flying up to 200 kilometers (120 miles).
The type of the projectiles was not known, but North Korea tested its new multiple rocket launchers on March 3.
Sporadically, North Korea has fired multiple rocket launchers and short-range missiles into the sea in a show of military power. But such launches have been more frequent this year.
Last Friday North Korea test-fired what appears to be a medium-range ballistic missile into the sea. South Korea's defense ministry said the launch was in line with Kim's recent order to step up missile and nuclear tests.
Kim has fumed at the new UN sanctions, ordering nuclear weapons to be ready for use at any time and vowing to step up the development of atomic bombs.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
