Briefly

NORTH KOREA

Missile launch draws criticism

SEOUL — North Korea fired at least one and maybe two short-range missiles off its west coast yesterday, said U.S. and South Korean officials, prompting quick U.S. criticism of Pyongyang over the second such launch in as many weeks.

The launch occurred a day after President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed at a bilateral meeting there were limits to their patience with Pyongyang’s failure to honor a nuclear disarmament agreement.

A South Korean Defense Ministry official confirmed reclusive communist North Korea had fired at least one missile but could not specify the exact number or type.

White House National Security spokesman Gordon Johndroe said North Korea’s missile test activity was “not constructive” and Pyongyang should focus on dismantling its nuclear program.

CHINA

3 fired over Tiananmen ad

BEIJING — Three top editors of a Chinese newspaper have been sacked over the publication of an ad saluting the mothers of victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, a source close to the matter said yesterday.

The chief editor and two vice editors of the Chengdu Evening News were fired after the paper ran the small classified ad on Monday, the 18th anniversary of the June 4 Tiananmen crackdown, said the source, who requested anonymity.

The Tiananmen massacre remains one of the taboo subjects in China, where the official line is that authorities put down the “political disturbance” to safeguard economic and social stability.

CHINA

U.N. troops nixed for use in Sudan

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