DPRK confirms it has tested missiles

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) confirmed on Thursday that it has tested missiles, calling them routine military drills aimed at strengthening the country's defense.

A DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a statement that the country would continue to launch missiles, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

The statement said the missile launches were "successful" and have shown "strengthened self-defense force."

The missile launches have nothing to do with the six-party talks on the Korean peninsula nuclear issue, it said.

"The successful launch of missiles this time was part of our normal self-defense capabilities," said the statement, adding that the DPRK would continue to conduct missile tests and exercises as part of stepping up its self-defense forces.

The DPRK reportedly launched seven missiles on Wednesday morning.

Source: Xinhua