North Korea fires two suspected ballistic missiles off east coast within three hours

South Korea's Joint Chiefs ⁠of Staff said it detected the first test firing from the Wonsan area around 3 p.m. (0600 GMT), identifying the weapon ​as a ballistic missile. Japan's defence ministry also said it appeared to be a ballistic missile.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK said the ​projectile had come down outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. The first projectile flew approximately 450 km (280 miles) and is presumed to belong to the Hwasong-11 series, 's military.

The second short-range missile, which was also fired from Wonsan at about 5:50 p.m. (0850 GMT), flew more ​than 600 km (373 miles), it said.

"South Korean and US intelligence authorities have been tracking and sharing related developments from the ​initial stage of the launch, and have also shared information regarding the 'North Korean ballistic missile' with Japan," the South Korean Joint Chiefs of ‌Staff said. South ⁠Korea's National Security Council condemned the missile launch, which follows a test on September 12.

The council urged Pyongyang to immediately cease missile activity, warning the test directly violated UN Security Council resolutions. "We are aware of the recent missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners.

Based on current assessments, these events do not pose an immediate threat to ​U.S. personnel or territory, or ​to our allies," the US ⁠Pacific Command said in an X post. Japan also lodged a protest through embassy channels in Beijing,.

"This series of North Korean actions threatens the peace and ​security of Japan, the region, and the international community," Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi was ​quoted as saying ⁠by Nikkei. On Saturday, North Korea dismissed a resolution by the UN nuclear watchdog against Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

Pyongyang last week also condemned a US-led naval drill which included South Korea and Japan and which ran from August 29 to September 10 near Guam.

North Korea's ⁠Kim Yo ​Jong, the influential sister of leader Kim Jong Un, on Friday blamed US-led ​military drills for "ever-worsening" tensions on the Korean Peninsula and vowed no change in the country's course to strengthen its nuclear arsenal.