N. Korea fires short-range projectiles

North Korea's Kim Jong-Un (REUTERS/KCNA)
North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un (REUTERS/KCNA)

Seoul, South Korea (AFP)—North Korea fired short-range projectiles into the sea off its eastern coast on Thursday, South Korea’s defense ministry said, hours after the United Nations Security Council imposed tough new sanctions on Pyongyang.

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

Spokesperson Moon Sang-Gyun said the ministry was still analyzing 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 neighbors 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 Jan. 6 and a long-range rocket launch last month.