North Korea Test-Fires Missiles

SEOUL—North Korea test-fired four short-range missiles from locations on its east coast on Thursday evening, South Korean defense officials said, the latest in a series of acts that have stepped up international tension with Pyongyang.

Observers in other countries have been expecting such tests since North Korea last month ordered domestic vessels out of several zones in the Sea of Japan where it said it would conduct military drills through July 10.

North Korea possesses about 600 short-range missiles and 300 medium-range missiles and tests them several times a year. But such tests gained more attention this year because North Korea in April tested a long-range missile for the third time and in May tested a nuclear explosive device for the second time.

Two of the ground-to-ship missiles were fired from near the North Korean city of Wonsan, a spokesman for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Two more missiles later were fired from an east-coast location that wasn't disclosed. Military and intelligence officials in Seoul and Washington have been watching for signs that North Korea might soon test another long-range missile. For now, they don't believe such a test is imminent.

Pyongyang increased its weapons testing in recent months after hard-line figures associated with its military gained power in the country's authoritarian regime following the illness of dictator Kim Jong Il in August and September. The regime also reduced diplomatic activity with other countries, expelled international aid workers and clamped down on public markets and other economic activity perceived as threats to their authority.

Some analysts say they believe Mr. Kim is laying the groundwork for one of his sons to succeed him as ruler if his health turns poor again, but there has been no indication of that in North Korea's internal media.

The hard-line shift in Pyongyang's ruling elite has resulted in fewer contacts between North Korea and other countries. For instance, North Korea reduced communications with South Korea to formal meetings about a joint industrial park the countries run in the North's border city of Kaesong. The third such meeting in two months occurred Thursday, but South Korean authorities said little progress was made in discussions about the financial terms of operating contracts at the park.

Meanwhile, the North's test of a nuclear weapon led the United Nations Security Council to impose new penalties and financial sanctions last month. The official in charge of the U.S. effort to enforce the new penalties, Philip Goldberg, met with counterparts in China on Thursday.

Following the meeting, Mr. Goldberg told reporters in Beijing that the discussions were "very positive" and part of a continuing process. He declined to answer questions about China's plans for enforcing the sanctions, saying he would leave that to Chinese officials.

—Ian Johnson in Beijing and SungHa Park in Seoul contributed to this article.