A North Korean mock Scud-B missile, center, and other South Korean mock missiles are displayed at... 
(AP)
But Vice President Joe Biden indicated the U.S. would not be baited by attacks on the day Americans celebrated their independence. On ABC, he described the flurry of rockets as "attention-seeking behavior."
He added: "I don't want to give the attention."
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is concerned about the missile tests, which defied Security Council resolutions. He told reporters Sunday that North Korea's communist regime has closed all doors to communication and dialogue.
Officials at South Korea's unification and defense ministries said Monday that Ban appeared to be emphasizing the launches would further deepen the North's isolation. Nevertheless, the two Koreas have not severed all contact despite increasingly strained ties. They have held several rounds of talks on their joint factory park, the latest last week, and are still connected by several hot lines.
North Korean state media have not specifically mentioned the launches but boasted Sunday that the country's military could impose "merciless punishment" on those who provoke it.
"Our revolutionary forces have grown up today as the strong army that can impose merciless punishment against those who offend us," the North's main Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a commentary, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.
The North has engaged in a series of acts this year widely seen as provocative. It fired a long-range rocket it said was a satellite in early April, and in late May it carried out its second underground nuclear test following the first in late 2006.
Another defense official said Monday that no signs of additional North Korean launches have been detected but that the South Korean military was closely monitoring the North's military. He also spoke on condition of anonymity citing department policy.
The North has warned ships to stay away from a large area off the east coast until July 10, leading to concerns more missiles could be fired.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Do you have more information about this topic? If so, please click here to contact the editors of ABC News.
