SEOUL - NORTH Korea on Thursday test-fired four short-range missiles, South Korean military officials said, further fuelling tension sparked by its nuclear standoff with the international community.

The missiles - apparently surface-to-ship ones - were fired into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) between 5.20pm (0820 GMT, 4.20pm Singapore time) and 9.20pm, defence ministry officials were quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.

All were launched from a base at Sinsang-ri, near the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, a spokesman was quoted as saying.

Other officials told the agency on condition of anonymity they landed about 100km off the coast, where the North has imposed a maritime ban until July 11 for what it calls a military drill.

Spokesmen from the defence ministry confirmed the first three firings to AFP but could not be reached for comment on the fourth.

It was the first military action the hardline communist state had taken since the United Nations on June 12 imposed tougher sanctions for its May 25 nuclear test.

South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo newspaper, quoting an intelligence source, said the North was likely to fire a series of short-range missiles in the coming days.

Apart from ground-to-ship weapons, it said these would likely include Scud-B missiles with a range of 340km.

The North may also fire Rodongs, whose 1,300km range would likely be shortened to some 400km for the current round of testing, the paper predicted.

In the days after its atomic test - the second since 2006 - Pyongyang fired a total of six short-range missiles and renounced the truce brokered on the Korean peninsula after a civil war in 1950 to 1953.

In response to the UN resolution tightening curbs on its missile and atomic activities, it vowed to build more nuclear bombs.

US and South Korean officials believe ailing leader Kim Jong Il, 67, is staging a show of strength to bolster his authority as he tries to put in place a succession plan involving his youngest son. -- AFP

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