North Korea has test-fired five short-range missiles off its east coast,
leaving observers 'bewildered'.

Published: 1:43PM BST 12 Oct 2009

The missile launches took place within hours of South Korea proposing
working-level talks with its communist neighbour.

In Moscow, a foreign ministry spokesman said that Russia had been left
"bewildered" by North Korea's actions.

Yonhap news agency, citing an unidentified South Korean government
official, said the North test-fired the missiles on Monday afternoon
from its eastern coastal launch pad.

Yonhap said the North has issued a no-sail zone in an area off the east
coast between Oct 10 and Oct 20 - an apparent indication it was planning
missile tests.

Earlier on Monday, South Korea proposed working-level officials of the
two sides meet on Wednesday to discuss how to prevent floods in the
Imjin River running through their heavily armed border. The South also
proposed a separate meeting of Red Cross officials on Friday to discuss
reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

However, Chun Hae-sung, a spokesman for Seoul's unification ministry,
said the South had no plan to resume high-level dialogue with the North.

Pyongyang has recently reached out to Seoul, easing months of tension
over the North's nuclear and missile programmes.

North Koreans and US officials may meet within weeks and six-party talks
between international negotiators could resume at a later date.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites