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North Korea Fires More Weapons; Criticizes South Korea

William Gallo

   Updated Aug. 16, 12:05 a.m.

   SEOUL -- North Korea has launched a fresh round of short-range weapons
   into the sea off its east coast, South Korea's military reported -
   Pyongyang's latest apparent outburst of anger at continued U.S.-South
   Korean military drills.

   The North fired two "unidentified projectiles" Friday from Gangwon
   province in the northeast part of North Korea, according to a statement
   from Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff. The weapons traveled about 230
   kilometers, reaching a height of 30 kilometers, the statement said.

   North Korea has conducted six launches in about the past three weeks.
   Combined with a series of aggressive statements toward South Korea, the
   launches mark a return to a more provocative stance for Pyongyang,
   which has refused to hold talks with Seoul or Washington.

   Following an emergency meeting Friday, South Korea's National Security
   Council called on North Korea to stop the launches and warned that such
   activity may increase military tensions.

   Though it isn't clear what North Korea launched Friday, the North's
   other recent tests involved short-range ballistic missiles that appear
   designed to evade U.S.-South Korean missile defenses.

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