Seoul - North Korea on Monday test-fired five short-range missiles off its east coast towards the Sea of Japan, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reported, quoting government sources. The missiles were fired into the Korea's East Sea on Monday afternoon, Yonhap said. Earlier reports had spoken of two missiles.
It remained unclear whether the missiles, which were believed to be KN-02 surface-to-surface missiles with a range of 120 kilometres, had been fired during military manoeuvres.
North Korea had declared a navigation ban in its waters off its east and west coasts from October 10 to 20.
In July, the Stalinist state conducted a series of ballistic missile tests, increasing the tension surrounding its missile and nuclear weapons programmes. According to South Korea, the tested missiles had a range between 400 and 500 kilometres.
In recent weeks, however, Pyongyang has adopted a more conciliatory position and said it was willing to return to international talks on ending its nuclear weapons programme.
In a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il indicated the country's willingness to return to the six-party talks, provided there was progress in bilateral talks with Washington.
In an initial reaction, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday's missile launches did not affect Washington's policy towards Pyongyang.
"Our goals remain the same. We work for a nuclear-free Korean peninsula," Clinton said.
A lot of progress had been made in the six-party talks and the continuing consultations remained "unaffected by the behaviour of North Korea," Clinton told journalists during her visit to Northern Ireland.
The six-party talks, which aim at ending Pyongyang's nuclear weapons drive, also involve South Korea, the United States, Russia and Japan.
