North Korea Fires Surface-to-Ship 'Silkworm' Missiles - Japan's Kyodo

May 25, 06:01 AM

Current Headlines: Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo

Tokyo, May 25 Kyodo - North Korea fired several short-range missiles towards the Sea of Japan Friday morning, sources close to Japan-US relations said.

The missiles - thought to be a modified version of the surface- to-ship Silkworm, or a ballistic missile smaller than the short- range Scud ballistic missile - were launched from a coastal area in North Korea's Hamgyong-Namdo region, the sources said.

They may well have been part of a regular drill, the sources said. The Japanese government is analysing the motive behind the firings, the sources said.

The information is believed to be based on images sent by a US military reconnaissance satellite.

A Japanese government source said they "would not post a threat to Japan-US security." The Defence Ministry is gathering information, the source said.

North Korea fired a total of seven missiles including the Taepodong-2 in July 2006. It also fired short-range missiles from its eastern coast in May 2005.

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