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North Korea fired two short-range missiles from the western coast into the sea ahead of the anniversary of the North Korean Workers' Party on Friday, a defense source told the Yonhap news agency Tuesday.
South Korean intelligence sources earlier on Tuesday said there were signs that the North Korean Army was getting ready to fire KN-01 surface-to-ship missiles and Styx ship-to-ship missiles from Chodo, South Hwanghae Province, where its ninth Flotilla is stationed. The KN-01 missile, an improved version of the Chinese Silkworm surface-to-ship missile, has a range of 110 to 120 km. The Styx ship-to-ship missile has a range of 46 to 50 km.
Intelligence authorities reportedly concluded that North Korea would fire several missiles, having brought them to the coastal area in Chodo, and imposed a navigation ban in waters off the western coast and ordered ships to move elsewhere.
The South Korean government source said the aim was likely ˇ°to show that the military is still in good shapeˇ± despite rumors about North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's ill health.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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