North Korea Sunday test-fired a short-range missile off its east coast, its fourth in two days, despite pleas from South Korea and the U.N. chief to halt the launches at a time of high tensions.

North Korea on Saturday launched three short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan, apparently as part of a military drill, South Korea's defense ministry said.

South Korea says North Korea has fired three short-range guided missiles into its eastern waters. Pyongyang routinely test-launches such missiles.

South Korea Thursday criticized an “unhelpful” visit to North Korea by a senior aide to Japan's prime minister, saying it weakened the united front needed to deal with Pyongyang.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said Tuesday she wants talks with North Korea about removing raw materials and finished products from a joint industrial complex closed by military tensions.

South Korea's presidential office apologized Sunday for an “very shameful” scandal involving a former senior official who was fired midway through President Park Geun-hye's U.S. visit.

A former top South Korean presidential spokesman who was dismissed for what officials called a “disgraceful incident” while accompanying President Park Geun-hye on her visit to the United States denied Saturday media reports that he sexually molested a Korean-American woman during the trip.

A U.S. naval strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz arrived off South Korea Saturday for drills, following joint exercises that infuriated North Korea.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye fired her chief spokesman because of what her office said Friday was a “disgraceful incident” during Park's trip to the United States, in what could be a domestic blow after an otherwise widely praised appearance in Washington.

Ahead of a nuclear-powered U.S. carrier's visit to South Korea, North Korea on Friday called this week's summit between the U.S. and South Korean presidents a prelude to war against Pyongyang. Yet it also said it was waiting “with patience” to see if Seoul changes its policies.