26 March 2014

News Report: North Korea Launches Mid-range Missiles


North Korea has fired two medium-range Rondog missiles into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea in Korea.

The South Korean Yonhap News Agency said the missiles fired early Wednesday have a range of about 1,300 kilometers.  The report said the missiles flew about 450 kilometers.

The launch came as leaders of the United States, Japan and South Korea met in the Netherlands, with North Korea's nuclear ambitions high on the agenda of their talks.

Before the meeting started Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama said deepening coordination among Washington, Tokyo and Seoul, including “military cooperation that includes joint exercises," is vital to dealing with North Korea.

The latest launches - following a recent series of short-range rocket launches - could be a North Korean response to the trilateral summit.

Pyongyang fired 16 short-range rockets into its eastern waters early Sunday, following similar launches of 30 rockets Saturday.

Analysts say the launches are an expression of Pyongyang's anger at ongoing annual South Korean - U.S. military drills, which run until next month.

The North routinely criticizes the drills, saying they are rehearsals for an invasion.

This story first appeared on Voice of America & is reposted here with permission.