North Korea fires two missiles after nuclear test (Lead)
By DPA, Gaea News NetworkTuesday, May 26, 2009
SEOUL - North Korea fired two short-range missiles Tuesday, a day after conducting an internationally condemned nuclear test, South Korean media reported.
The launches were carried out on North Korea’s east coast, the national news agency Yonhap said, citing a government official in Seoul.
“The North is continuing its sabre rattling,” the official told Yonhap while refusing to be identified or say whether Tuesday’s launches were designed as tests.
On Monday, the Stalinist state fired three short-range ballistic missiles with a range of 130 km from its east coast shortly after an underground test of a nuclear device.
Monday’s missile launch site was believed to be close to the location of the nuclear test, North Korea’s second since October 2006.
The news agency also said, quoting informed sources, that North Korea was believed to be preparing to test more short-range ballistic missiles, believed to be anti-ship missiles, from its west coast.
Pyongyang banned shipping in the waters off its west coast until Wednesday.
