North Korea fires several short-range missiles into sea

NORTH Korea fired several shortrange projectiles into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan in the early hours of this morning, South Korean and Japanese officials said.

The projectiles, which were thought to have been ballistic missiles, flew in a north-easterly direction for around 150 miles before landing in the sea.

Japanese reports stated the launch took place from a site in Gangwon province on North Korea’s east coast.

US officials said the missiles appeared to have either failed in flight or exploded almost immediately, adding they had posed no threat to North America or Guam.

“The first and third missiles at 11:49 am and 12:19pm. failed in flight. The second missile launch at 12:07pm. appears to have blown up almost immediately,” Pacific Command said, using times at its Hawaii-based headquarters.

The launch was the first by Kim Jongun’s regime since the July 28 test of a missile that analysts said could reach the US mainland 6,200 miles away.

Pyongyang, which has also been developing nuclear weapon capabilities, then threatened to fire missiles at the US territory of Guam, triggering a war of words with Donald Trump, the US president.

US and South Korean troops are engaged in joint military drills in South Korea in response to North Korea’s aggressive posturing.

South Korea’s defence ministry said in a statement: “The military is keeping a tight surveillance over the North.”