Defence authorities in Pyongyang hit back at the test firing of a ballistic missile by South Korea last month, calling it a "grave provocation," dpa quoted media reports as saying Monday. South Korea on March 23 held several tests of a new rocket with a range of 500 kilometres. North Korea threatened to "wipe out the enemy's strongholds" if any missiles landed on its territory, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported, citing Pyongyang's official news agency KCNA. Three days after the South's ballistic missile launches, Pyongyang tested two medium-range missiles, Yonhap reported. On March 31, the two sides exchanged fire along their disputed maritime border during a maritime drill by North Korea.
