Seoul  - North Korea fired three short-range missiles, according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap Saturday.

South Korean officials said the firings took place on Friday, and involved three so-called ship-to-ship missiles.

Two of the firings were apparently not successful. The missiles, with a reach of 45 kilometres, were aimed toward North Korea and were not interpreted as a provocation against South Korea.

Officials said it apparently involved a routine test of rockets from the outmoded North Korean arsenal. (dpa)