Gates says no unusual N. Korean activity

HAGATRIA, Guam, May 29 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Friday no unusual military activity has taken place in North Korea since the country threatened South Korea.

Gates said while North Korea has threatened the South with a military attack, the United States has no plans to provide reinforcements for the nearly 28,000 U.S. troops currently stationed in South Korea, The New York Times said.

Unidentified military officials said North Korea's latest test of a short-range missile does not alter the assessment.

The test fire took place on the country's northeast coast Friday and follows last Monday's nuclear device test and two other missile tests earlier this week, a South Korean Defense Ministry official said.

The North Korean missile launch Friday came as South Korea honored former president Roh Moo-hyun with a state funeral in Seoul. Roh, the focus of a major corruption scandal in his country, committed suicide last week.