North Korea test fires 30 short-range missiles

North Korea has test fired 30 short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan amid calls by the United States and South Korea to stop the so-called acts of provocation.

A spokesman for the South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired off “30 short-range missiles” between 4:00 a.m. and 6:10 a.m. local time Saturday (1900-2110 GMT Friday) from its east coast into the Sea of Japan.

“The missiles are estimated to have flown about 60 kilometers (37 miles).”

Commentators say the test fire, which has been North Korea’s sixth missile launch over the past month, is an expression of anger by Pyongyang.

South Korea has urged the North to stop what it described “provocative” and potentially dangerous tests.

Washington has also called on Pyongyang to refrain from “provocative actions that aggravate tensions.”

The United States military says Washington and Seoul are set to hold large-scale amphibious war games code-named Twin Dragons with the participation of over 10,000 American troops on the southeast coast of South Korea from March 27 through April 7.

The maneuvers will involve 7,500 US Marines, two thousand American Navy personnel, and an undisclosed number of Australian and South Korean forces.

The US-South Korea joint drill last year fuelled tensions, with Pyongyang threatening a preemptive nuclear strike.

North Korea has always slammed such war games as rehearsals for an invasion, but Seoul and Washington reject the idea, saying the military maneuvers are of defensive nature.

Tensions have been escalating between the two Koreas over the past months.

North Korea says it will take additional measures to demonstrate its might as long as threats from the United States persist.

Pyongyang has recently announced that it would strengthen its nuclear deterrence for self-defense in the face of US threats.