-North Korea, angered by drills, fires short-range missiles off coast
North Korea fired two short-range missiles off its east coast on Monday, South Korean officials said, a defiant response to annual military exercises between South Korea and the United States but one which drew a swift protest from Japan.
The firing came hours before the US-South Korean military exercises were scheduled to begin, drills which the secretive North denounces as a preparation for war. The missiles hit the sea early on Monday morning after travelling for about 490 km (305 miles), according to South Korea's defense ministry. Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said North Korea fired the missiles without designating any no-sail zones, which was regarded as a provocation.
