North Korea raises stakes with new missile launch

If the missiles were the ballistic Scuds, the launches would mark an escalation by the reclusive North, which has fired several non-ballistic, short-range missile since the May 25 nuclear test. North Korea is barred by United Nations resolutions from firing ballistic missiles such as the Scud.

"North Korea fired two missiles, which appeared to be a Scud type," Yonhap quoted an anonymous South Korean official as saying. "The missiles are estimated to have the range of about 500 km (310 miles)."

It then fired another similar missile a few hours later off its east coast that flew a similar distance and splashed into the sea, Yonhap quoted a government source as saying.

South Korean Defence Ministry sources confirmed the North fired three missiles off its east coast that travelled for about 400 km, which would indicate it fired ballistic missiles. The sources would not confirm the type of missiles.

Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported the North may have fired at least one Rodong, a mid-range missile that can fly about 1,000 km to 1,400 km and hit all of South Korea and most of Japan.

It has taken authorities several hours to sort out the exact type of missiles launched by the North when it previously fired off salvos of ballistic missiles.

North Korea is thought to have more than 600 Scud-type missiles that include the Hwasong-5, with a range of about 300 km and the Hwasong-6, with a range of about 500 km.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura issued a statement that said the latest missile launch: "is a serious act of provocation against the security of neighbouring countries, including Japan," Kyodo news agency reported.

North Korea fired a barrage of four short-range, non-ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Thursday.