North Korea has fired three short-range ship-to-ship missiles off its west coast as part of a military training exercise, reports from South Korea say.

A government source was quoted as saying missiles with a range of nearly 50km (30 miles) were fired into the sea west of the North's capital, Pyongyang.

The North conducted a similar launch in March in what was seen as a snub to the US and the South's new government.

The Koreas dispute the delineation of their sea border in the West Sea.

The area is a rich fishing ground.

There was no immediate confirmation of the missile launches from the North.

PHOTO CAPTION:

Korean Missile

BBC