N Korea Conducts Another Missile Test

Today, North Korea test-fired two more missiles, following similar launches earlier this week. An unidentified government official quoted by Yonhap news agency said both of the missiles were believed to be Scuds with a range of 500 kilometres, which would allow the North to strike most of South Korea. North Korea fired four short-range missiles on Thursday into the Sea of Japan, but the range of those missiles was estimated to be only around 120 kilometres. This week's missile launches were 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. In the days after its atomic test - the second since 2006 - the North also fired a volley of short-range missiles. In response to the UN resolution tightening curbs on its missile and atomic activities, it vowed to build more nuclear bombs. It also renounced the truce brokered on the Korean peninsula after a civil war in 1950 to 1953.