Twitter exercise:

North Korea test-fired a series of missiles in an apparent act of defiance on the 4th of July #USAindependence #kimjongil (121 characters)

Reports say at least five Scud-type ballistic missiles with a range of about 500km were fired. #NorthKorea (106 characters)

South Korea and Japan labeled the latest tests as an “act of provocation” #WW3 (78 characters)

North Korea banned from all ballistic missile-related activities under UN sanctions after second underground nuclear test in May. #UN (134 characters)

South Korea's Joint Chief of Staff said missiles were fired from one of the North's east coast launch sites on Saturday morning. #NorthK (137 characters)

All the fired missiles landed in the Sea of Japan, known in South Korea as the East Sea. #NorthKorea (100 characters)

"Our military is fully ready to counter any North Korean threats and provocations," the JCS said in a statement. #NorthKorea (124 characters)

South Korean defense officials said Saturday's tests were of greater concern than Thursday’s, as the missiles had longer ranges. #NorthKorea (140 characters)

Thursday's missile tests were apparently part of a military drill, those on the eve of the US Independence Day had political intentions. #NK (140 characters)

The South Korean government condemned the launches for being in breach of the recent UN Security Council resolution. #NorthKorea (129 characters)

BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says the launches are seen there as part of North Korean efforts to ratchet up the tension. #WorldWar3 (132 characters)

The missiles' estimated 500km reach brings most of South Korea within striking distance. #NKmissile (99 characters)

Japanese and South Korean media have reported that North Korea may be preparing to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile. #WorldWar3 (139 characters)

But our correspondent says there are no signs that such a test could be imminent. #WorldWar3 (92 words)

Pyongyang is banned from testing ballistic missiles under UN resolutions but launched a long-range rocket in April. #WorldWar3 (126 characters)

There are fears that North Korea is trying to produce nuclear warheads small enough to put on missiles. #KimJongIl (114 characters)

Pyongyang said it would "weaponise" its plutonium stocks and start enriching uranium, after six-nation talks on its nuclear ambitions. (136 characters)

On 12 June the UN Security Council approved a resolution allowing inspection of air, sea and land shipments in and out of North Korea. #UN (138 characters)

The North has said it will treat any interception of its ships as a declaration of war. #NorthKorea #WW3 (104 characters)