NORTH Korea is believed to have launched at least two ballistic missiles hours after warning the US it would face a strong reaction over the imposition of new sanctions.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday that they had detected two short-range missiles launched from the west coast of North Korea on Thursday.

It is the third missile test since the start of the new year.

Pyongyang defended its right to carry out such tests as self-defence. 

It said that the development of a “new-type weapon” was part of attempts to modernise its national self-defence and was not targeting any other country.

North Korea’s foreign ministry accused Washington of provocations by imposing a raft of new sanctions, warning of a strong response if it goes ahead.

“The US accusation of the DPRK’s legitimate exercise of the right to self-defence is an evident provocation and a gangster-like logic,” a statement said.

A spokesman threatened a “stronger and certain reaction” if the US continues with its confrontational stance.