N. Korea Tests More Missiles

North Korea launched short-range missiles Thursday off its western coast, South Korea's Defense Ministry said, but it was still unclear how many rockets had been fired.

"We have intelligence that North Korea fired short-range missiles into the waters off its western coast, and we are trying to confirm how many were fired and what type of missiles they are," a Defense Ministry official said on customary condition of anonymity.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported the North fired one or two missiles Thursday morning, citing an unnamed intelligence official.

The White House issued a terse response Thursday, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Knoller.

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters, "The United States and our allies believe that North Korea should refrain from testing missiles. North Korea should focus on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and fulfill its obligations under the February 13th agreement. This kind of activity is not constructive."

Last month, North Korea test-fired at least one short-range missile into eastern coastal waters, which South Korean and U.S. officials played down as part of the communist country's regular military drills.

The latest launches come as North Korea refuses to move on its pledge to shut down its main nuclear reactor over a delay in withdrawing $25 million at a Macau bank, which was blacklisted by the U.S.

The North has made the funds' release a key condition to disarmament, having boycotted international negotiations for more than a year over the issue, during which it conducted a nuclear test last October.

Last July, North Korea also fired a barrage of missiles, including a long-range one believed to be capable of reaching even parts of the U.S.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said last week that he and Chinese envoy Wu Dawei agreed that North Korea appeared ready to follow through on the February agreement committing it to shut down its main Yongbyon nuclear reactor in exchange for energy aid.

Hill is the top U.S. envoy to on-going six-nation talks aimed at resolving the nuclear standoff with Pyongyang.

"Once they have their funds from the bank, they are prepared to do their part of the bargain, which is to shut down the Yongbyon plant," Hill said, referring to the financial dispute involving North Korean funds earlier frozen in a Macau bank.

The bank is accused by the U.S. of aiding Pyongyang in money laundering and counterfeiting.

The U.S. helped unfreeze the $25 million being held in Banco Delta Asia, but the money's transfer has been delayed because foreign banks are unwilling to touch the funds.