North Korea launches five more missiles: Report (Third Lead)

North Korea fired five more missiles off its east coast Saturday, according to South Korean media reports.

The missiles, apparently Scud rockets, were fired over the Sea of Japan, the Yonhap national news agency said citing government sources.

"It is a provocative act that clearly violates UN Security Council resolutions 1695, 1718, and 1874 that bar North Korea's every activity related to ballistic missiles," South Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement, Yonhap reported.

The ministry expressed its regret at North Korea's escalation of tensions in North-East Asia, and called on it to comply with UN resolutions.

Japan also condemned the rocket launches. Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said North Korea's action was "a serious act of provocation against the security of neighbouring countries, including Japan, and is against the resolution of the UN Security Council".

On Thursday, South Korea confirmed that North Korea had fired four short-range missiles over the Sea of Japan, with an estimated reach of 120 to 160 km.

The missile tests Thursday were thought to be part of routine manoeuvres by the North Korean military but, because of tensions on the Korean Peninsula over its nuclear programme, a new demonstration of North Korea's military strength was not being ruled out, KBS broadcaster quoted a defence ministry official in Seoul as saying.

The launches came as a nuclear test, earlier missile firings and threats from Pyongyang as well as tightened UN sanctions against North Korea have ratcheted up tensions with the country.

Last updated on Jul 4^th, 2009 at 14:10 pm IST--DPA