File photo taken on Jan. 5, 2009 shows the Democratic People's Republic of Korea test-fires missiles. DPRK has test-fired a total of five short-range missiles off its east coast Oct.12, 2009 South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. (Xinhua/AFP file photo) Photo Gallery>>>

　SEOUL, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has test-fired a total of five short-range ground-to-ground missiles off its east coast on Monday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing government sources.

    The five KN-02 type missiles, two of them launched on Monday morning and the rest in the afternoon, were fired from missile bases located between south of Musudanri, North Hamgyeong Province, and north of Wonsan, Gangwon Province, the sources said.

    The DPRK has issued a navigation ban in waters off its east and west coasts from Oct. 10 to 20, the sources added.

    A military expert said the missiles fired on Monday appear to be part of routine military drills, but it is also likely to be a sort of "demonstration of its military muscle" to draw international attention.

    There is a possibility that the DPRK conducted the test-firing of the KN-02 missiles after it improved their performance, the expert said.

    The KN-02 missiles, an upgraded version of the Russian SS-21 and with a range of between 100 to 120 km, were firstly displayed on April 25, 2007 at a military parade in Pyongyang to mark the 75th anniversary of the DPRK's Korean People's Army.

    According to South Korean media, the DPRK has tested the KN-02 missiles for 12 times.

    S Korean, Japanese leaders vow to closely work on DPRK's denuclearization

    SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio met at a summit on Friday, emphasizing denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

    "The two leaders agreed on (the need for) a fundamental, comprehensive solution to North Korea (the DPRK)'s nuclear program and promised to closely cooperate to completely resolve the problem," President Lee said during a joint press conference held right after the summit. Full story 

    Russia welcomes DPRK's willingness to return to six-party talks

    MOSCOW, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Russia welcomes the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s willingness to return to the six-party talks on the Korean peninsula nuclear issue, an official said Tuesday.

    "We support the intention of the DPRK and the United States to hold a bilateral dialogue as a prelude and a preparatory stage for resuming the six-party talks," Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying. Full story

    S Korea remains cautious on DPRK's intention on nuclear talks

    SEOUL, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Tuesday remained cautious toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s recent remarks that it is willing to return to bilateral and multilateral nuclear negotiations.

    "It is still early to judge" the DPRK's real intentions, Wi Sung-lac, South Korea's top nuclear envoy, told media.Full story