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Seoul: N. Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles into sea

TOKYO, March 27 (KUNA) -- North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) on Monday, South Korea's military said, as a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier plans to hold joint drills in waters near the peninsula, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launches from North Hwanghae Province between around 7:47 a.m. (2247 GMT Sunday) and 8 a.m. (2300 GMT Sunday) and each flew some 370 km before splashing into the sea.
Pyongyang's latest provocation came as South Korea and the US kicked off an amphibious landing exercise last week. It is scheduled to end next Monday.
The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group will also train together with the South's major warships in waters south of the peninsula on Monday, according to Seoul's Defense Ministry.
The South Korean Navy's Sejong the Great destroyer, equipped with the Aegis combat system, and the Choe Yeong destroyer will be mobilized for the practice to be staged in international waters south of the southern island of Jeju.
The US aircraft carrier will then make a port call in Busan, 320 km southeast of the capital, the following day, the ministry added.
In September last year, the US deployed the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier to South Korea, with the allies seeking to bolster the "extended deterrence" against the North's growing military threats. (end) mk.rk