Agents say some dozen KN-01 surface-to-ship and Styx ship-to-ship missiles are deployed ready for firing in an area near Chodo, North Hwanghae Province. It would be an unprecedented number of missile tests if the North fires all of them. In 2006, North Korea tested seven, but they were medium- and long-range ballistic missiles. The KN-01, an improved version of the Chinese Silkworm missile, has a range of 110 to 120 km. The Styx has a range of 46 to 50 km.

Meanwhile, there is speculation that the North fired air-to-ship missiles from an IL-28 bomber on Tuesday, not surface-to-ship or ship-to-ship missiles as is widely believed.

Intelligence authorities here seem to think North Korea will fire at least five to seven missiles, given that a navigation ban in waters in the area holds until Oct. 15 and the North is still ordering ships to move elsewhere.

South Korean military authorities speculate that the missile tests are some kind of response to South Korea's large-scale celebrations of the 60th anniversary of its armed forces, including the Navy's latest international fleet review.

A South Korean military source said, "North Korea fired surface-to-ship missiles last year when we launched our first Aegis-equipped King Sejong the Great class destroyer" and such a response is therefore in character.

(englishnews@chosun.com )