North
Korea has test-fired two mid-range ballistic missiles from its eastern coast,
says South Korea.
The first launch was considered to have failed,
travelling about 150km (90 miles) before landing in the sea.
The second, launched hours later, flew about 400km.
Military officials in the South said both were intermediate-range Musudan
missiles.
A confirmed successful test would mark a step
forward for North Korea after four failed launches in recent months.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Seoul and
the US were "carrying out an in-depth analysis" of the second launch,
and did not say whether it was considered a success.
North Korea, which is developing nuclear weapons, is
banned by UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology.
South Korea's presidential office announced that it
would hold a national security meeting to discuss the launch.
North Korea has tested these medium range missiles
six times now in three months. Outside experts and intelligence agencies
believe the first five launches were certainly failures, but aren't sure about
the sixth (today's second launch).
It seems to have gone about 400km (250 miles), far
short of its maximum range. That may be because it failed or it may be because
a decision was taken not to send it over Japan which had said it would shoot
any missile down.
So why is North Korea conducting tests so
frequently?
Some Western scientists say that the more
conventional way of testing is to conduct the test, and if it fails, to go away
and work out why before trying again some months or even a year later.
If this steady method over a long period isn't being
followed by North Korea, it may be because of intense pressure from the top, a
pressure the scientists on the ground will no doubt feel.
The US State Department has strongly condemned the
launches, with spokesman John Kirby saying the tests would only increase
efforts to stop North Korea's weapons programme.
"We
intend to raise our concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in
holding [North Korea] accountable for these provocative actions," said
Mr Kirby in a statement.
North American Defense Command (Norad), which
tracked the missiles, determined they did not pose a threat to North American
territories.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said such
tests "clearly cannot be tolerated".
The Musudan is believed to have a range of about
3,000km (1,800 miles), enough for it to hit South Korea, Japan and the US
territory of Guam in the Western Pacific.
North Korea is thought to have dozens of them but
has never successfully tested one.
The four other missiles tested in the last two
months either exploded mid-air or crashed.
Surrounding countries had detected preparations for
a launch in the past few days and warned that it was about to happen.
Analysis:
Stephen Evans, BBC News, Seoul
