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N. Korea fires rockets

Spencer, KimballJune 29, 2014

North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles into waters off its eastern coast, according to South Korean officials. It's the second volley of rocket fire by Pyongyang in less than a week.

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Korth Korean president Kim Jong Un observing military exercises
Image: Reuters

In an apparent test fire, North Korea launched two Scud missiles into the Sea of Japan on Sunday, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. The Scuds have a range of approximately 500 kilometers (300 miles).

"Both landed in international waters beyond its sea border," an unnamed South Korean Defense Ministry official told the AFP news agency.

The two missiles were fired from Wonsan in the eastern coastal province of Kangwon, a defense official told the Associated Press, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

On Friday, Pyongyang claimed to have successfully tested "cutting-edge, ultra-precision tactical guided missiles." President Kim Jong Un personally presided over the test launches, according to North Korean state media.

Regular occurrence

There's no way to independently confirm whether Pyongyang has actually developed precision-guided missiles. But the North Korean claim could refer to three missiles that it fired on Thursday, which South Korean officials said travelled 190 kilometers before harmlessly landing in the sea.

Pyongyang frequently fires missiles to demonstrate its dissatisfaction with decisions made by South Korea and the United States.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit South Korea on July 3, where he will hold talks with President Park Guen-Hye. North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons will feature prominently in the two leaders' discussions, according to the South Korean presidency's office.

It's the first time in nearly two decades that a sitting Chinese president has visited the South without first visiting the North. Beijing is Pyongyang's sole ally and provides the isolated communist state with vital economic aid.

slk/mr (AP, AFP)