South Korea says North Korea may fire more missiles

The North fired four short-range missiles off its east coast Thursday, just ahead of the U.S. Independence Day holiday that falls this weekend. The U.S. and Japan called the North's move "provocative."

In 2006, North Korea launched its most advanced Taepodong 2 missile while the U.S. celebrated July Fourth, though the rocket broke apart shortly after takeoff and fell into the ocean.

"We are keeping a close watch on North Korea as it may fire more missiles," said an official with South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. He added that North's no-sail zone announced last month for military drills remains in effect in waters off its east coast through July 10.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to media, did not elaborate on whether the North could fire short-, medium- or long-range missiles. Pyongyang is banned from testing ballistic missiles under U.N. resolutions.

In April, North Korea threatened to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile and warned of a nuclear test. The regime followed through with the underground atomic blast in May, leaving the ICBM test as its next likely step.

Speculation has centered on whether the North may try to fire a long-range missile toward Hawaii during the period up to July 10, though officials and analysts are divided over the prospects.

Missile defenses were beefed up following a mid-June report in a Japanese newspaper that the North might fire a long-range missile toward the islands in early July.

Some, including Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura, believe a long-range missile launch could come this weekend. "We cannot rule out the possibility," he said Thursday, citing Pyongyang's past behavior.

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