North Korea fired three short-range projectiles into the sea Thursday in an apparent show of force ahead of an expected visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to South Korea. The projectiles were launched from the North's eastern port of Wonsan and flew 190 kilometres (115 miles) into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), the South's defence ministry said.
"We are looking into exactly what type of projectiles were fired," a ministry spokesman told AFP, adding they could be missiles or rockets. "It's still unclear if North Korea test-fired new weapons, or launched them for intentional provocation," he said, adding that South Korean troops had increased their vigilance along the border.