NORTH Korea test-fired ballistic missiles towards its eastern seas today, according to the South Korean and Japanese militaries.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported detecting the firing of multiple short-range ballistic missiles from north of the North Korean capital Pyongyang, adding they had travelled about 244 miles towards the north-east.

Seoul’s military high command said it was closely communicating with the United States and Japan while analysing the launches, but it did not immediately provide further flight details.

The Japanese Defence Ministry said it had detected at least two launches but did not immediately specify the types of missiles and how far they flew.

Japan’s coastguard said the missiles were believed to have already dropped into the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan and urged vessels to watch out for falling objects. NHK television said the missiles were believed to have come down outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned the launches as a provocation that “seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.”

A statement said that the South Korean and US militaries were closely monitoring North Korean activities while maintaining a combined defence posture “to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation.”

North Korea didn’t immediately confirm the launches, the reports of which followed a round of ballistic tests last week as supreme leader Kim Jong Un vowed to have his nuclear force fully ready for battle with Pyongyang’s rivals.

The North said that last Thursday’s launches had involved “super-large” 600mm multiple rocket launchers, which it describes as capable of delivering tactical nuclear warheads. 

Experts say Pyongyang’s large artillery rockets blur the boundary between artillery systems and ballistic missiles because they can create their own thrust and are guided during delivery.

Since 2022, North Korea has ramped up its weapons-testing activities to expand and modernise its arsenal of nuclear missiles.