North Korea has test-fired five short-range missiles. The launches, the country's first in three months, took place at a base on the North Korean coast and were directed at the Sea of Japan. North Korea had already declared the seas off its east and west coasts off-limits between 10 and 20 October.

Pyongyang says it is now prepared to rejoin the six-party talks about its nuclear programme. North Korea quit the talks with the United States, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea six months ago, following a United Nations resolution condemning an earlier missile launch.

Photo of missile launch by ANP