N Korea fires short-range projectiles after UN sanctions

Pyongyang fires missiles to show its displeasure with any perceived slight by its neighbours or int'l community

SEOUL: North Korea fired short-range projectiles into the sea off its eastern coast on Thursday, South Korea's defence ministry said, hours after the UN Security Council imposed tough new sanctions on Pyongyang.

The ministry said six projectiles with an apparent range of 100-150 kilometres (60-90 miles) were fired into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) at 10:00am (0100 GMT).

Spokesperson Moon Sang-Gyun said the ministry was still analysing whether they were short-range missiles or rockets. "The South Korean military is monitoring any additional movements from the North," he added.

North Korea regularly fires missiles or rockets to show its displeasure with any perceived slight by its neighbours or the wider international community.

The sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council late Wednesday were the toughest to date on North Korea which conducted its fourth nuclear test on January 6 and a long-range rocket launch last month.