SEOUL, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired four short-range missiles off its east coast on Thursday, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.

    DPRK fired the first missile at 05:20 p.m. (0820 GMT) and the other three at 06:00 p.m., 07:50 p.m. and 09:20 p.m. respectively from Sinsang-ni between the eastern coastal city of Hamhung and Wonsan, the report quoted a South Korean official as saying.

    According to South Korean defense ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae, DPRK fired the short-range missiles off its east coast on Thursday, just hours after the DPRK ended its talks with South Korea without progress over their joint industrial park.

    The missiles, which appeared to be surface-to-ship ones, "were fired into the East Sea (Sea of Japan)," Won Tae-jae said.

    Other officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the missiles landed about 100 kilometers off the coast, where the North had imposed a June 25-July 10 maritime ban for a military drill.

    The firing is the first military action Pyongyang has taken since the UN Security Council passed a resolution bolstering sanctions on DPRK for its May 25 nuclear test.

    Within several days of the nuclear explosion in May, Pyongyang fired a string of short-range missiles off its east coast. South Korea believed that Pyongyang is also preparing to test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile.

    Earlier Thursday, working-level talks between the North and South over their joint factory park in the North Korean border city of Kaesong ended without an agreement or a date for another round.

    The park is the last surviving cross-border venture born out of the first summit between South Korea and DPRK's leaders in 2000, housing over 100 South Korean firms employing 40,000 workers from the DPRK.

Japanese PM condemns Pyongyang's latest missile test-firings

    TOKYO, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said on Thursday the latest test-firings of missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as a "provocative act."

    "We have often warned that such a provocative act is not beneficial for North Korea's national interest," Aso was quoted by Kyodo News as saying, adding it is difficult to understand what kind of message Pyongyang wants to send with its latest missile launches. Full story

U.S. beefs up sanctions against DPRK

    WASHINGTON, June 30 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions against two companies that were allegedly involved in nuclear weapon and missiles-making activities by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

    The United States will freeze any assets held by Namchongang Trading Corp. of the DPRK, and bar it from any dealings with American companies or individuals, the State Department said in a statement. Full story

DPRK's nuclear weapons not to threaten others: newspaper

    PYONGYANG, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The nuclear weapons of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were "neither threatening other countries, nor be used for preemptive attacks," said a commentary carried by the Rodong Sinmun daily on Sunday.

    The DPRK's nuclear deterrent is, to all intents and purposes, of self-defensive nature and has an aim and mission to champion peace, the commentary said. Full story

U.S. extends economic sanctions on DPRK

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington June 23, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, June 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama has decided to extend economic sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for another year because of its nuclear activities.

    Obama on Wednesday extended Executive Order 13466, which was signed by his predecessor George W. Bush last June, for another year in order to ensure the measure would continue in effect beyond June 26. Full story

Pyongyang stages anti-U.S. rally to mark Korean War anniversary

    PYONGYANG, June 25 (Xinhua) -- An anti-U.S mass rally was held Thursday in the Kim Il Sung Square, center of Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

    The rally, which was attended by more than 100,000 Pyongyang residents, was staged to mark the 59th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War.   Full story

DPRK newspaper calls for "patriotic war of justice"

    PYONGYANG, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Rodong Sinmun, a leading official daily newspaper of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on Thursday called for a "patriotic war of justice" to defend the country's peace and security.  Full story

DPRK newspaper accuses U.S. of providing nuclear umbrella to S Korea

    PYONGYANG, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Rodong Sinmun, an official daily of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on Monday accused the United States of attempting to provoke a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula.

    The U.S. commitment to provide a nuclear umbrella to South Korea under the pretext of "inexistent threats from the DPRK," shows its "gangster logic" to attempt to dismantle the DPRK's nuclear program while providing South Korea with a nuclear umbrella and attempting to "launch a pre-emptive strike against the DPRK," said a commentary carried by the newspaper.    Full story