S.Korea says North fires 7 missiles off east coast

North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles on Saturday, South Korea's Defense Ministry said, in an act of defiance towards the United States that further stoked regional tensions already high due to its nuclear test in May.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the missiles test-fired were "Scud-type", marking an escalation of recent sabre-rattling by the reclusive North, which has fired several non-ballistic, short-range missiles since the May 25 nuclear test.

North Korea is barred by United Nations resolutions from firing ballistic missiles such as the Scud.

South Korea's Defense Ministry confirmed the North fired seven missiles off its east coast over a period of several hours that traveled for about 400 km and splashed into the sea.

"It is a provocative act that clearly violates UN Security Council resolutions," Yonhap quoted a statement from South Korea's Foreign Ministry as saying.

"The government expresses deep regret over North Korea's continued acts to escalate tensions in Northeast Asia."

North Korea is thought to have more than 600 Scud-type missiles that include the Hwasong-5, with a range of about 300 km (185 miles) and the Hwasong-6, with a range of about 500 km (310 miles).

Japan, a party to currently suspended six-nation talks aimed at coaxing the isolated North to give up its nuclear program in return for aid and greater diplomatic recognition, was also quick to condemn Pyongyang's latest action.

"Japan strongly protests and regrets today's missile launches by North Korea as they are a serious act of provocation against the security of neighboring countries, including Japan, and is against the resolution of the UN Security Council," Japan's foreign ministry said in a statement.

North Korea fired a barrage of four short-range, non-ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Thursday.

In 2006, North Korea test-fired its long range Taepodong-2 missile and other ballistic missiles while the United States celebrated its July 4 Independence Day national holiday.

An anonymous South Korean official quoted by Yonhap said the North's latest move appeared to be intended to send a message to the United States.

"The missiles fired on July 2 were analyzed to be part of military drills, but today's missiles seem to have political purposes in that they were fired a day ahead of the US Independence Day," the agency quoted the official as saying.