Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, March 18

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Friday fired a ballistic missile which flew about 800 km before falling into the sea off the country's east coast, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

The move came at time when South Korea and the United States are carrying out their largest-ever annual military drills which Pyongyang deemed a provocation. (DPRK-Missile Launch)

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WASHINGTON -- The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group has committed genocide against minority Christians, Yazidis and Shiite Muslims in Iraq and Syria, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday.

"Daesh is responsible for genocide against groups in areas under its control, including Yazidis, Christians, and Shiite Muslims," Kerry said, referring to the group by an Arabic acronym. (U.S.-IS-Genocide)

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TRIPOLI -- Libyan coast guards on Thursday rescued 187 illegal migrants off the coast of west of the capital Tripoli after their boat caught fire, according to the coast guards.

A Libyan coast guards spokesman said four migrants died and 43 others were injured when the boat caught fire for an unknown cause near the coast of Sabratha, about 65 km west of Tripoli. (Libya-Migrants)

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LAGOS -- The Nigerian Army on Thursday confirmed the killing of two soldiers by suspected sea pirates in oil rich Rivers State.

Army spokesman Captain Eli Lazarus in Port Harcourt confirmed the deaths in a clash he called a "fierce encounter with a group of unknown gunmen suspected to be sea pirates." (Nigeria-Security) Endi