S. Korea: North fires missiles into sea

Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea today, South Korea’s military said, a likely show of anger at continuing springtime war games by rivals Washington and Seoul and another ratcheting up of hostility on the already anxious Korean Peninsula.

The South Korean Defense Ministry says the missiles were fired from North Hwanghae province, flew about 310 miles and fell into the water off the country’s east coast. They are believed to be Scud-type missiles, said ministry spokesman Moon Sang Gyun.

Such missile firings by the North are not uncommon when animosity rises here. North Korea hates the massive annual military drills staged by Seoul and Washington, calling them invasion preparations. The allies say the drills, which this year are described as the biggest ever, defensive and routine. Pyongyang also is angry over tough United Nations sanctions after its recent nuclear test and long-range rocket launch.

The firings come a day after North Korea caused a new stir by publicizing a purported mock-up of a key part of a nuclear warhead, with leader Kim Jong Un repeating a claim that his country has developed miniaturized atomic bombs that can be placed on missiles.