North Korea says missile test part of normal drills

KAESONG, North Korea, June 8 (Reuters) A senior North Korean official said today its latest missile launch was part of ''normal'' military exercises and should not be seen as a threat.

US officials have criticised yesterday's firing of up to two short-range missiles and urged Pyongyang to focus on its nuclear disarmament, something it agreed to in February but has yet to begin implementing. South Korea has played down the significance of the launch.

''It was part of normal military exercises,'' Jong Dok-ki, vice chairman of the North's Council of National Reconciliation, told Reuters in an interview.

There was no reason for it to raise any alarm, he said in the North Korean border town of Kaesong, where more than 500 South Korean Buddhist monks and followers were making a pilgrimage to a local temple.

Thursday's missile launch was the second in as many weeks.

''The South has nothing at all to worry about as far as our missiles are concerned,'' Jong said, adding that any country was entitled to conduct military drills.

''All this is designed to protect the nation.'' REUTERS GT VC1600