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North Korea fires five short-range projectiles into sea: South

The picture, released by South Korean news agency Yonhap on February 7, 2016, shows a North Korean missile test. (Photo by AFP)

North Korea has fired four short-range projectiles into the waters off its east coast, South Korea's army says.

An official with South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectiles were launched from the suburbs of the North Korean city of Hamhung just before 3:20 p.m. local time (0620 GMT) on Monday and landed in the East Sea, or Sea of Japan, after flying about 200 kilometers (125 miles).

South Korea's Yonhap news agency, citing an unnamed government source, said the army was trying to figure out what types of projectiles were fired.

On Friday, Pyongyang fired two medium-range ballistic missiles into the sea, its first of such launches since early 2014.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), in a statement, strongly condemned the missile launches as “unacceptable” and urged Pyongyang to comply with UNSC resolutions, which prohibit North Korea from carrying out all ballistic missile activities.

The UNSC also called on all nations to redouble efforts to implement all UN measures against the North, including the new sanctions which were imposed on Pyongyang following its nuclear test on January 6 as well as a February 7 rocket launch reportedly aimed at placing an earth observation satellite into orbit. The rocket launch was condemned by a number of countries as a disguised ballistic missile test.

Earlier this month, the UNSC imposed its “toughest” sanctions on North Korea, targeting the country’s military, mining, trade and financial sectors.

Relations between North and South Korea have been turbulent for years. Pyongyang and Seoul fought a war in the early 1950s, and have been at odds ever since.

Tensions have recently escalated further following the recent start of joint military exercises by Washington and Seoul.

North Korea accuses the US of plotting with its regional allies to topple the government in Pyongyang. The country bills its nuclear capabilities as a deterrent against hostile US policies.


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