It was the fourth missile test in less than two weeks. Two Scud-type missiles were fired from the western province of Hwanghae into the Sea of Japan. They have a range of about 500 km. One of the architects of North Korea's nuclear programme dies.

Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) - North Korea today fired two short-range missiles into the sea in the latest in a series of launches interspersed with spurned peace overtures to South Korea.

It was North Korea's fourth missile test in less than two weeks, South Korean sources reported.

A spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said two scud-type missiles were fired from the western province of Hwanghae into the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

"We suspect they were short-range ballistic missiles," said spokesman Um Hoy-Sik, with a range of about 500 km.

The latest missile tests also coincide with the announcement of the death of one of the architects of North Korea's nuclear programme.

The launches of the past few days were made ahead of an official state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea - they appear to be a military response to his decision to visit Seoul without coming to Pyongyang as Chinese leaders did in the past.

China is North Korea's last ally. However, Chinese President Xi has already met four times with South Korean President Park Geun-Hye, including two major summits, but has yet to visit with the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un.

Pyongyang has carried out ​​several tests in recent months, interspersed with brief signs of openness and conciliatory language towards South Korea, including a recent offer to stop military activities and verbal provocations.

In the past, such offers have ended in a deadlock. In this case, Seoul rejected the offer as deceptive.

For years, the United Nations has tried to stop the North Korean regime from conducting nuclear tests, and its medium and short-range testing have usually gone unpunished.

So far, Pyongyang has carried out ​​three nuclear tests and appears to be developing long-range missiles, capable of striking the United States.

Nuclear talks have been at an impasse for years. Technically, the two Koreas are still in a state of war. The armistice signed in 1953 was never followed up with a peace agreement.

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