Thursday, July 6 2006 11:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Seoul: North Korea's foreign ministry today (July 6, 2006) called the country's missile launches 'successful' exercises aimed at defending itself, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

"The successful launch of missiles this time was part of our normal military exercise, which was aimed at reinforcing our self-defense capabilities," said a foreign ministry statement quoted by Yonhap, which monitors the North's media.

It was North Korea's first formal statement on yesterday's tests, which were carried out despite weeks of international appeals.

Pyongyang fired seven missiles, including a long-range Taepodong-2 which crashed into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) in less than a minute, according to US officials.