North Korea test-fires short-range missile

[News_Editor]

North Korea test-fires short-range missile

2011-06-08 17:03:25 GMT+7 (ICT)

SEOUL/PYONGYANG (BNO NEWS) -- North Korea test-fired a short-range missile off its western coast last week, the Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday. It is the first such launch in more than 1.5 years.

"North Korea fired a KN-06 short-range missile off its west coast in the middle of last week," an intelligence source told Yonhap. North Korea has reportedly been trying to improve its KN-06 missile since 2010 in a bid to put it into service.

The test comes after a series of threats was made by the North against South Korea, although it is not known if the events coincided on purpose. Tensions have been high on the Korean Peninsula since North Korea launched two attacks on the South last year, killing 48 people.

The reported test would be the first missile test in North Korea in more than 1.5 year. On May 25, 2009, North Korea conducted a nuclear test near the county of Kilju in North Hamgyong province. It was followed by the test-firings of at least 11 missiles, while 11 more were fired two months later.

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