North Korea fires two short-range missiles in latest test: Seoul

This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 5, 2014 shows the drill of the Korean People's Army (KPA) ground, naval, air and anti-air forces for landing on an island at an undisclosed place in N
This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 5, 2014 shows the drill of the Korean People's Army (KPA) ground, naval, air and anti-air forces for landing on an island at an undisclosed place in North Korea. North Korea on Wednesday fired two suspected short-range missiles off its eastern coast in the latest in a series of missile tests, South Korea said. -- PHOTO: AFP / KCNA VIA KNS

SEOUL (AFP) - North Korea on Wednesday fired two suspected short-range missiles off its eastern coast in the latest in a series of missile tests, South Korea said.

A spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said the North had fired what appeared to be two short-range missiles from its western province of Hwanghae into the Sea of Japan off its eastern coast.

"We suspect they were short-range ballistic missiles", the spokesman told AFP.

The latest test came after the North vowed last week to push ahead with further strategic guided-missile tests, defying international calls to curb its weapons programme.

North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests in the past week - seen by some as a display of pique with Chinese President Xi Jinping's two-day state visit to Seoul.

China is North Korea's sole major ally, but while Mr Xi has met South Korean President Park Geun Hye four times - including at two summits - he has yet to sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

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