Pyongyang fires short-range projectiles into eastern waters

North Korea fired several short-range projectiles towards the East Sea on Thursday, hours after the UN adopted a resolution punishing Pyongyang for its recent nuclear and long-range rocket tests.

According to South Korea's Defence Ministry ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun, the missiles were fired from Wonsan at around 10.00 a.m., Yonhap News Agency reported.

The type and the number of projectiles fired are under examination, he said.

In addition, the South Korean armed forces have intensified its surveillance of the movements of the North Korean army and have reinforced their defensive positions.

Describing the new UN resolution as one of the toughest and most effective non-military measures in seven decades of UN history, South Korea said it will step up efforts at international cooperation to encourage North Korea to dismantle its nuclear programme "completely, verifiably and irreversibly".

The new resolution was the fourth UN sanction against Pyongyang's nuclear tests. Previous resolutions were adopted in 2006, 2009 and 2013 each when North Korea tested its atomic devices.

Two separate UN resolutions were also approved in 2006 and 2013 when the country tested a prohibited missile technology by launching long-range rockets.