N. Korea fires another missile

PYONGYANG, North Korea, May 27 (UPI) -- North Korea fired three short-range missiles Tuesday, the day after its claimed nuclear test, South Korea said.

Quoting the South Korean presidential office, Yonhap news agency reported Wednesday a second missile launch was made from the North's east coast hours after two short-range missiles reportedly were fired from the same region.

"The North appears to have launched a ground-to-ship missile into the East Sea shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday," an official said, asking Yonhap not to be identified.

On Monday, the North drew international condemnation for allegedly conducting a nuclear that, if confirmed, would be its second since October 2006.

South Korean officials told Yonhap the missile launches may be designed to deter U.S. and South Korean reconnaissance planes from verifying the nuclear test, about which some experts have raised doubts.

Speaking to CNN about the North Korean actions, Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, had warned, "If they want to continue to test and provoke the international community, they're going to find that they will pay a price, because the international community is very clear -- this is not acceptable, it won't be tolerated, and they won't be intimidated."

The 15-member U.N. Security Council Tuesday strongly condemned North Korea's claims of nuclear testing and planned to issue an appropriate resolution.

Last month, North Korea had threatened to conduct such tests after the Security Council similarly condemned its test-firing of a long-range missile.

The developments are occurring as the six-nation talks on North Korea's denuclearizaiton in return for massive aid to the isolated communist nation remain stalled. Besides North Korea, others in the talks are China, the United States, Russia, Japan and South Korea.

The new developments may earn North Korean additional sanctions.