North Korea launches fresh missile test
North Korea is reported to have fired two more short-range missiles
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Tuesday, 26, May 2009 05:39
North Korea is reported to have fired two more short-range missiles in the face of international condemnation over its recent nuclear test.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency cited unnamed government sources as saying one of the missiles was a surface-to-air weapon and the other a ground-to-ship, with both having a range of around 80 miles.
The test launch comes a day after North Korea carried out an underground nuclear test as well as three other missile tests.
The United Nations security council immediately condemned the tests and held an emergency meeting on Monday where the need for a new resolution against its leader Kim Jong-il was agreed.
In response, North Korea's official agency KCNA carried a statement warning against American "hostility".
"Our army and people are fully ready for battle... against any reckless US attempt for a pre-emptive attack," the statement declared.
The UN is expected to discuss new sanctions against the north again later today.
On Monday, an official comminique declared an underground nuclear test had been "successfully conducted... as part of measures to enhance the republic's self-defensive nuclear deterrent in all directions".
A 4.7 magnitude earthquake was detected at 00:54 GMT, some six miles underground, with US and South Korean nuclear geological agencies confirming the tremor indicated an explosion of nuclear magnitude.