N Korea test-fires 3 missiles: S Korea

North Korea on Saturday test-fired three missiles on the eve of American Independence Day celebrations, South Korea's defence ministry said. This move could further stoke tensions amid an international nuclear standoff.

The firing of the missiles, reported to have a range of up to 500 kilometres (312 miles), follow a series of missile launches earlier this week by the isolated Stalinist state.

"North Korea has test-fired three missiles so far this morning," a defence ministry spokeswoman said.

The first two missiles were launched between 08:00 am and 08:30 am (2300-2330 GMT Friday) and the third one was fired at 10:45 am, she said.

She said all three missiles were believed to have been launched from Kitdaeryong Base, near the eastern port of Wonsan, into the East Sea (Sea of Japan).

"The military, on the basis of a strong joint defence alliance with the United States, is fully prepared to fend off any threats or provocations by the North," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement earlier on Saturday.

"All the missiles fired (today) are believed to have a range of between 400 and 500 km," an unidentified government official told Yonhap news agency, allowing the North to strike almost anywhere in South Korea. Yonhap said the first two missiles were believed to be Scuds.

Japan has condemned the latest missile launches as a "serious act of provocation."

"It is a serious act of provocation against the security of neighbouring countries, including our country," Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura was quoted by Jiji Press as saying.

The Japanese government's top spokesman said the act was also against a UN Security Council resolution, according to Jiji.

Analysts said the North was flexing its military muscle amid tough international sanctions imposed on Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons and missile programmes.

Baek Seung-Joo of the Korea Institute for Defence Analyses said the North test-fires missiles three to four times each year to improve technology and maintain missile exports.

"Today's launches were part of a usual military drill but by firing 500km-range Scuds, the North was clearly displaying its ability to strike back against any international sanctions involving military means," Baek said.