DPRK fires 6 short-range projectiles in wake of UN resolution

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea's defense ministry said Thursday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has fired several short-range projectiles into eastern waters after new UN Security Council resolution on Pyongyang.

Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-Kyun told a regular press briefing that DPRK forces fired several rounds of short-range projectiles at about 10 a.m. local time (0100GMT) from its Wonsan area into the East Sea.

Whether the projectiles were short-range missiles or artillery shells hasn't been identified, the spokesman said, adding that the military has been analyzing the launches.

Moon noted that the ROK military maintained a full defense readiness while closely monitoring the moves of DPRK forces.

The DPRK's launches came just hours after new UN Security Council resolution on Pyongyang was adopted by consensus in New York over its recent nuclear test and long-range rocket launch.

Pyongyang tested what it claimed was its first "hydrogen bomb" on Jan 6 and launched a satellite on a long-range rocket, which was condemned by outsiders as a banned test of missile technology, on Feb 7.

Describing the new UN resolution as one of the toughest and most effective non-military measures in seven decades of UN history, the ROK said it will step up efforts at international cooperation to encourage the DPRK to dismantle its nuclear program "completely, verifiably and irreversibly."

The new resolution was the fourth UN sanction against Pyongyang's nuclear tests. Previous resolutions were adopted in 2006, 2009 and 2013 each when the DPRK tested its atomic devices.

Two separate UN resolutions were also approved in 2006 and 2013 when the DPRK tested a prohibited missile technology by launching long-range rockets.

Seoul's foreign ministry said that new sanctions against Pyongyang would eliminate loopholes in previous resolutions to focus on cutting off resources to finance the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs.