SEOUL: North Korea fired two suspected short-range ballistic missiles in a northeastern direction on Monday, the South Korean military said.

The two missiles were launched from the Jangyon area in South Hwanghae Province between 5:05 a.m. and 5:15 a.m. local time, the South Korean military said.

One of the missiles traveled about 600 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan near the coast of northeastern North Korea. The other missile most likely fell on land after flying about 120 kilometers, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency quoted a South Korean military source as saying.

The launches came after North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Wednesday.

The South Korean military condemned Monday’s firing as clear provocation that threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. It said it is maintaining a full-readiness posture while sharing related information with the United States and Japan.

Pyongyang has criticized the Freedom Edge joint military exercise held by Japan, the United States and South Korea last week as “reckless and provocative military muscle-flexing” against North Korea and warned of “fatal consequences.”

On its Wednesday firing, North Korea has claimed to have successfully tested a multiple warhead intermediate-range ballistic missile, but the South Korean military has said the launch ended in failure.

JIJI Press