North Korea Launches A Number Of Short-Range Ballistic Missiles, Falls In The East Sea

North Korea's missile test illustration. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - The South Korean military said on Thursday North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles towards the East Sea, a week after Pyongyang warned Seoul and the United States had to pay a combined "price" exercise held by the two countries.

"North Korean missiles flew about 360 kilometers and landed in the East Sea," said the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), as reported by The Korea Times on September 12.

JCS further explained that they detected missiles launching from the Pyongyang region at 7:10 a.m., but gave no further details, such as the number of missiles fired.

The distance, if fired south, is enough to affect major South Korean cities such as Seoul and Daejeon as well as major military facilities in Gyersong and Gunsan.

The South Korean military condemned the latest launch as a "provocative act" that deeply threatens the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and vowed to give a firm response.

"While closely monitoring North Korea's various activities under a strong joint defense posture between South Korea and the United States, we will maintain the extraordinary ability and posture to respond to any provocations," the JCS said.

Separately, Japan's Defense Ministry said at least two ballistic missiles from North Korea flew more than 350 km, up to an altitude of about 100 km.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tokyo strongly condemned the launch and protested against North Korea.

"We continue to make maximum efforts to monitor and cooperate with the US and South Korea," said PM Kishida.

The suspected missile appears to have landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone and there have been no reports of any damage, Japanese media reported.

North Korea last fired a missile on July 1, when it claimed to have successfully tested a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a super large warhead weighing 4.5 tons.