Bell said the short-range surface-to-surface missiles fired off the eastern coast were believed to be an upgraded version of the Frog-5 or Frog-7 with a range of 55 to 70 kilometers.
"These missiles are designed to be used on this peninsula and these missiles, in general, appear to be performing as they are designed," he said.
The North’s missile program is "very disturbing" and its missiles are easy to handle and fire, Bell said, pointing out that they can target cities anywhere on the peninsula.
"One of the biggest threats to peace and stability is the potential capability for North Korea to couple its missile technology with its demonstrated nuclear capability." Bell said.
Richard Lawless, outgoing deputy undersecretary of defense, also said North Korea had successfully tested a new short-range missile and is close to making it operational, posing a threat to South Korea and Japan.
The new missile is more mobile and accurate than the Scud missiles already targeting South Korea and will pose a new threat to South Korea, Lawless said during a final news conference.
Meanwhile, Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said the North's recent short-range missile tests were clearly conducted with South Korea rather than Japan in mind. The daily said their range was 120 kilometers and therefore posed no direct threat to Japan.
