North Korea fires missiles into sea

North Korea has launched four ballistic missiles towards
 the Sea of Japan.

Three of them fell into Japan's exclusive economic zone 
(EEZ) after flying some 1,000km (620 miles), in what PM Shinzo Abe called a "new stage of threat".

They were fired from the Tongchang-ri region, near the
 North's border with China, the South Korean military said.

The type of missile in unclear but the North is banned 
from any missile or nuclear tests by the UN.

A South Korean military official said a launch had taken
 place at 07:36 local time Monday (22:36 GMT Sunday)
 and was being investigated to determine the type of 
projectile used.

The US military said later it had detected and tracked a
 launch but had determined that it did not pose a threat to North America.

On Friday, Pyongyang threatened to fire missiles in 
response to the Foal Eagle military exercises under way between South Korea and the US. The North sees the 
annual drills as preparation for an invasion against it.

Monday's launches were just the latest in a long series 
of tests of North Korean missile technology, which experts
 say is likely to be improving with successive tests.

However, most believe the North is still some time away
 from being able to miniaturise nuclear warheads so they could fit on to a missile.

North Korea has repeatedly said its space programme is peaceful but it is believed to be developing an intercontinental ballistic missile that could strike the US.


Last month North Korea said it had successfully test-fired
 a new kind of ballistic missile in a launch supervised by 
leader Kim Jong-un.

It was the first test-firing since Donald Trump became the 
US president and was condemned by the UN, the US, South Korea and Japan.

Recent activity in the Tongchang-ri region, home to the
 Sohae Satellite Launching Station, has been a cause for concern for Japanese officials.

Screens have been set up in key areas at the site, probably 
to deter satellite surveillance, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

On Sunday, South Korea said it would quadruple the
 reward it pays defectors from the North who share information that will help enhance security to $860,000 (£700,000).