South Korean intelligence services had already announced in the past month that the communist regime was preparing to test various missiles, including one long range, around this date.

The four projectiles launched on Friday, suspected to be KN-01 missiles, were launched from Sinsang-ri in the same zone as those of today, and travelled a distance of almost 100 km.

In the case of the SCUD missiles launched today, it is believed that North Korea can count on around 700 units of various kinds in their arsenal. This is the second launch of missiles that North Korea has carried out since the UN Security Council voted for new and stronger sanctions on the communist regime following their second nuclear test, done on the 25th of May.

North Korea warned Japan on the 23rd of June that, until the 10th of July, it was going to prohibit the passage of boats in the Sea of Japan close to its coastline where the recent launches were made, because they have planned to carry out military exercises.

The South Korean government yesterday said that they consider the Friday launches to be part of these military exercises, although they did not rule out the possibility that this could be a reaction to international pressure against the communist country.