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[Harpeau]

� North Korea test-fires several missiles
� Not known how many or what kind of devices
� Intelligence officials tell Yonhap news agency they were short-range

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- North Korea test-fired several short-range missiles Thursday off its west coast, South Korea's defense ministry officials told CNN.

The test comes nearly two weeks after Pyongyang test-fired a short-range missile off its east coast.

Short-range missiles have an approximate range between 90 and 500 miles (150-800km), according to the U.S. State Department.

After North Korea's May 25 missile test, U.S. envoy Christopher Hill said "this is not unusual."

"From time to time, their military tests these short range missiles," Hill told reporters.

"It is obviously not anything that is ever going to contribute to their security, and we would prefer they spend their time figuring out how to denuclearize and how to join the international community. But this is not unusual."

Hill is the chief U.S. negotiator for talks on North Korea's nuclear program.

CNN Seoul Bureau Chief Sohn Jie-Ae contributed to this report