North Korea plans to effect new launchings of short-range cruise missiles, the Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday, referring to unnamed official sources.

The anti-ship cruise missiles are to be lofted into the Yellow Sea area from launchers located in the area of that country''s western coast.

On Monday, following the testing of an underground nuclear device, the DPRK launched three anti-aircraft missiles, which was viewed as a warning to American reconnaissance planes that monitor the situation around a nuclear test site in the North.

A source said the DPRK had announced a ban on the passage of ships in the area adjacent to Pyongan-namdo Province for a period from May 25 to 27, this year.

Seoul believes that anti-ship cruise missile of KN-10 type will be launched precisely within the mentioned period of time. KN-10 missiles are an improved version of the Silkworm rocket and have a range of up to 160 km.