Short-range rockets fired for 2nd day

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea says North Korea has fired more short-range rockets into its eastern waters for a second straight day. That’s apparently a continuation of protests of ongoing U.S.-South Korean military drills.

Colonel Eom Hyo-sik of Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff says the North launched 16 short-range rockets with a range of 37 miles early Sunday morning. The North had fired 30 rockets with a similar range early Saturday.

This is the fifth time the North has fired projectiles this month. One of the earlier launches happened minutes before a Chinese commercial plane reportedly carrying 202 people flew in the same area.

Pyongyang claims its rocket launches are part of routine drills and self-defensive in nature.