North Korea launched seven ballistic missiles from its eastern coast on Saturday, 4 July 2009, into the Sea of Japan, South Korean military officials confirmed. The projectiles, banned under UN resolutions, traveled between 400 and 500 kilometers and were identified as likely Scud or Rodong-1 missiles.
The launches followed a nuclear test in May and were widely seen as timed to coincide with the American Independence Day holiday. Analysts described the salvo as a signal that Pyongyang could fire longer-range weapons in the future. The North had also test-fired four short-range missiles earlier in the week.
South Korea's foreign ministry said the launches violated three UN Security Council resolutions, including one passed in June that tightened weapons-related sanctions. Japan, Britain, and France all condemned the action.
US and South Korean officials believe Kim Jong-Il, who has been ill, is staging a show of strength as he arranges a succession plan centering on his youngest son, Kim Jong-Un.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in July 2009, in its own words.