North Korea may fire more missiles: report

By Jack Kim

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea may test mid-range missiles or fire more short-range missiles to step up saber rattling that has raised regional tension, a South Korean daily said on Friday.

The North fired four short-range missiles on Thursday, which follows a rocket launch in April that boosted its long-range missile capability and a nuclear test on May 25 that put it closer to having a working atomic bomb.

"Their behavior continues to be unpredictable, although the activity we've seen today was not unexpected," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

South Korea's JoongAng Ilbo newspaper said more test firings could be on the way.

" ... as a military demonstration for external purposes, there is a possibility of additional medium or short-range missile launches, so we're close observing the situation," it quoted a military official in the South as saying.

The North often times its short-range missiles launches with periods of diplomatic friction and on Thursday Philip Goldberg, the U.S. envoy who coordinates sanctions against the North, was in China to enlist Beijing's help in getting tougher with North Korea.

China is the North's biggest benefactor and trade partner whose help would be essential for an effective sanctions regime, analysts said.

Asian investors have grown used to North Korea's military moves and tend not to be fazed. The won was down early on Friday against the dollar as the missile launch weighed on sentiment.