North Korea has fired short-range projectiles into its coastal waters for a third consecutive day, defying international calls for restraint.
South Korea said it was trying to determine whether the North had launched guided missiles or rockets into the East Sea, also called the Sea of Japan. It said one launch took place Monday morning and another in the afternoon.
Pyongyang has now fired a total of six short-range projectiles in three days, including three missiles on Saturday and one Sunday.
The launches have drawn criticism from South Korea, the United States, Russia and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. All appealed to the North to refrain from provocative behavior.
North Korea rejected those calls. It said the launches were part of military training exercises that are the "indisputable right" of any sovereign nation.
Earlier this year, North Korea repeatedly threatened to attack the South and the United States with nuclear strikes in response to what it viewed as provocative U.S.-South Korean military exercises. Some analysts said North Korea may be firing the short-range projectiles to save face while signaling to the world that it is ready to negotiate an easing of the tensions.
South Korea said it was trying to determine whether the North had launched guided missiles or rockets into the East Sea, also called the Sea of Japan. It said one launch took place Monday morning and another in the afternoon.
Pyongyang has now fired a total of six short-range projectiles in three days, including three missiles on Saturday and one Sunday.
The launches have drawn criticism from South Korea, the United States, Russia and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. All appealed to the North to refrain from provocative behavior.
North Korea rejected those calls. It said the launches were part of military training exercises that are the "indisputable right" of any sovereign nation.
Earlier this year, North Korea repeatedly threatened to attack the South and the United States with nuclear strikes in response to what it viewed as provocative U.S.-South Korean military exercises. Some analysts said North Korea may be firing the short-range projectiles to save face while signaling to the world that it is ready to negotiate an easing of the tensions.
