North Korea test-fires three ballistic missiles

North Korea test-fired three ballistic missiles on Tuesday, in further defiance of the international community and in apparent reaction to the planned deployment of a US defence system in the South. The launches drew swift condemnation from the United States and Japan, who vowed a coordinated response to Pyongyang's repeated violations of UN sanctions that bar it from weapons tests. Two SCUD missiles flew between 500 and 600 kilometres (310-370 miles) into the Sea of Japan, while a third, believ