North Korea may fire more missiles: S Korea

North Korea may launch more missiles, judging from its preparations, after test-firing seven in defiance of international appeals, South Korea's defence minister said today.

"There is a possibility that North Korea may fire more missiles," Defence Minister Yoon Kwang-Ung told the country's National Assembly.

"Judging from evidence of preparations it had made over the past two months and equipment and personnel coming and going there, there still remains a possibility of further launches," he said.

Chosun Ilbo, a Seoul daily, cited unnamed government sources saying "three to four short- and medium-range missiles" were still at their launch sites in North Korea.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted an unidentified military source as saying there was no movement in the North indicating the launch of a second Taepodong 2 long-range missile, which has the range to hit US soil.

Experts here say it would take at least three weeks for North Korea to transport engines and parts to assemble a launching vehicle at the pad and fuel it before firing the rocket.

North Korea had yesterday test-fired one long-range missile and six shorter-range ones, prompting widespread global condemnation.

Suh Choo-Suk, senior security policy advisor for President Roh Moo-Hyun, also said South Korea was closely monitoring activity in North Korea for evidence of further missile tests.