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North Korea defies UN sanctions by testing missiles
North Korea test-fired two mid-range ballistic missiles within hours of each other in defiance of UN sanctions
The Musudan is believed to have a range of about 3,000km, enough for it to hit South Korea, Japan and the US territory of Guam in the Western Pacific
North Korea is banned by UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology because of its nuclear weapons programme. However, military officials in South Korea said both missiles tested were powerful Musudan missiles.
The first launch failed while the success of the second was still being analysed.
Four other missiles tested in the last two months are reported to have either exploded mid-air or crashed.
Surrounding countries had reportedly detected preparations for a launch in the past few days and warned that it was about to happen.
Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said it "clearly cannot be tolerated" for North Korea to test ballistic missiles, and the country has said it would shoot down the missile if it entered Japanese airspace.
