North Korea fires short-range missiles ahead of U.S. defence chief visit to Seoul

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea on Friday test-fired four missiles off its west coast, a week ahead of a visit to Seoul by the U.S. defence secretary, in what South Korea called a bid to stoke tension during its joint military drills with the United States.

North Korea occasionally fires short-range missiles into the sea as part of its military drills and has conducted such launches during times of tension with neighbouring South Korea.