North Korea fires missiles into sea as U.S. defence chief visits region

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter walks on his way to meet Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 08 April 2015. REUTERS/Franck Robichon/Pool

OSAN, South Korea (Reuters) - North Korea has fired two surface-to-air missiles off its west coast, South Korea said on Thursday, with the latest in a string of short-range firings by the North coming shortly before the U.S. defence secretary arrived in the region.

The two short-range missiles were fired on Tuesday, South Korea's defence ministry said, and followed the launch on Friday of four short-range missiles off the west coast of North Korea.