DPRK fires additional missile, raising total number to 7(1)

2009-07-04 23:00:42 [ Big Normal Small ]    　Comment

·The DPRK fired 7 missiles off the east coast Saturday, according to South Korean Joint Forces. ·All the seven missiles are estimated to have a range of 400-500km, an official said. ·South Korean officials described DPRK's test-firings two days ago as part of routine military drills.

SEOUL, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea fired one additional short-range missile on Saturday, raising the total number of missiles fired in the day to seven, local media reported.

This file photo shows a model of a SCUD-B missile produced in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, displayed at the War Memorial Hall in Seoul. According to South Korean Joint Forces, the DPRK fired seven missiles off the east coast from a base near Wonsan on Saturday. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
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According to South Korean Joint Forces, the DPRK fired an additional missile off the east coast from a base near Wonsan, Gangwon Province at around 05:40 p.m. (0840 GMT), in addition to six short-range missiles fired at the same place earlier in the morning.

The DPRK started with two scud-type missiles between 08:00 - 08:30 a.m. (2300-2330 GMT Friday), after which shot four more at around 10:45 a.m. (0145 GMT), noon (0300 GMT), 02:50 p.m. (0550 GMT), and 04:10 p.m. (0710 GMT).

All the seven missiles are estimated to have a range of 400-500km, the official said.

The missile firing came two days after the DPRK test-fired four short-ranges off its eastern coast, which South Korean officials described as part of routine military drills.

"Although the missiles fired on Thursday appear to be part of routine military drills, the recent scud missiles seem to have political purposes as they were fired a day before the U.S. Independence Day," the official said.

The DPRK, since May, has been spotted with actions in preparation for firing a new mid-range missile, as well as scud missiles, Yonhap said.

The military authorities, however, said no sign has been observed from either its eastern Musudan-ri base or a new Tongchang-ri base on its west to conclude that an intercontinental ballistic missile launch is imminent.

In April, the DPRK threatened to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile in protest of the UN Security Council's presidential statement which "condemned" the DPRK's earlier long-range rocket launch.

DPRK should not "aggravate tensions," U.S. says

  WASHINGTON, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Saturday reiterated its call for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) not to "aggravate tensions" hours after the latter fired another seven missiles off its eastern coast.

  "North Korea (DPRK) should refrain from actions that aggravate tensions and focus on denuclearization talks and the implementation of its commitments from the September 19, 2005 joint statement," State Department spokesman Karl Duckworth said. 

Japan calls Pyongyang's missile launch "provocation"

  TOKYO, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Japan condemned Pyongyang's latest missile launch, calling it a serious act of provocation, the top government spokesman said Saturday.

  "It is a serious act of provocation against the security of neighboring countries, including Japan, and is against the resolution of the U.N. Security Council," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said in a statement.

South Korea eases humanitarian aid ban against DPRK

  SEOUL, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Humanitarian aid from South Korea was permitted to be sent to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday, said a South Korean government official on Friday.

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