North Korea launches three missiles into sea, sparks tension with Japan, South Korea

Seoul: North Korea early on Saturday fired several short-range projectiles into the sea off its east coast from its eastern Kangwon province, South Korea`s military said. [caption id=“attachment_2368974” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of Kim Jong Un. Reuters[/caption] The South Korean Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectiles flew in a northeasterly direction for about 250 kilometres (155 miles) into the sea. Earlier, South Korea`s Yonhap news agency said a ballistic missile may have been fired, without citing a source. Japan`s NHK broadcast said the projectiles did not appear to be objects that could threaten Japan`s safety. The launch is the first by the North since it test-fired a missile on 28 July that could have been designed to reach 10,000 km (6,200 miles), putting parts of the US mainland within reach. The launch comes amid an easing of tension after weeks of harsh exchange of threats between North Korea and the United States after the North`s leader Kim Jong Un threatened to fire missiles into the sea near the US Pacific territory of Guam. On Wednesday, Kim ordered the production of more rocket engines and missile warheads during a visit to a chemical institute of the Academy of Defence Science, an agency that he fostered to develop its ballistic missile programme. Diagrams and what appeared to be missile parts shown in photographs published in the North`s state media suggested Pyongyang was pressing ahead with building a longer-range ballistic missile that could potentially reach any part of the US mainland. It is also believed to be developing a solid-fuel missile that could be used for submarine launches. North Korea`s state media reported on Saturday that Kim had guided a contest of amphibious landing and aerial strike by its army against targets modelled after South Korean islands near the sea border on the west coast.