SEOUL : North Korea test-fired seven missiles off its east coast Saturday, South Korean officials said, in an act of defiance apparently timed for the US Independence Day holiday.
The launches further fuelled regional tensions after the communist state's nuclear test in May, which coincided with the US Memorial Day holiday.
They came as Washington seeks support for tough enforcement of United Nations sanctions aimed at shutting down the North's nuclear and missile programmes.
The ballistic missiles -- which the North is banned from firing under UN resolutions -- were launched between 8 am (2300 GMT Friday) and 5.40 pm into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), Seoul military officials said.
The North on Thursday test-fired four short-range missiles with a range of 120 km into the Sea of Japan.
The latest launches were seen as more provocative since the missiles could potentially reach most of South Korea, and possibly parts of Japan.
"The military, on the basis of a strong joint defence alliance with the United States, is fully prepared to fend off any threats or provocations by the North," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
The foreign ministry said the missiles were fired from a base at Kitdaeryong near the eastern port of Wonsan.
It said the "provocative act... clearly violates" three UN Security Council resolutions, including the latest one on June 12 which toughened weapons-related sanctions on the North in response to its May 25 nuclear test.
In a statement the ministry expressed "deep regret over North Korea's continued acts to escalate tensions in Northeast Asia".
Daniel Pinkston, senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, has said he had information from intelligence agencies that the North has assembled nuclear warheads for the Rodong-1.
Japan condemned the launches. "It is a serious act of provocation against the security of neighbouring countries, including our country," Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said.
Kawamura warned Tokyo would "promptly take appropriate measures" to implement the resolution. Baek Seung-Joo of the Korea Institute for Defence Analyses said the North test-fires missiles three to four times each year to improve technology and maintain missile exports.
"Today's launches were part of a usual military drill but by firing 500 km-range Scuds, the North was clearly displaying its ability to strike back against any international sanctions involving military means," Baek told AFP.
Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2009
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