North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, according to South Korea’s military, the second such launch in a week.
The two missiles were launched from the Wonsan area early on Wednesday.
Last week’s launch was the first such action since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met in June.
The North called that launch a “solemn warning” to Seoul over its planned military exercises with Washington.
It has previously expressed anger that the annual drills will go ahead next month- an event it sees as preparation for war.
What happened on Wednesday?
The missiles were launched at 05:06 (20:06 GMT Tuesday) and 05:27 local time from the Kalma area near the port of Wonsan.
The missiles flew 250km (155 miles) and reached a height of 30km before landing in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, said South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
The South’s defence minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said the missiles were identified as a different type from previous models.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed that there was no impact on Japan’s security following the launch.
Six days ago, North Korea fired two short range missiles, one of which travelled about 690km (428 miles) and the other 430km.
That launch was the first since Mr Trump and Mr Kim held an impromptu meeting in June at the demilitarised zone (DMZ), an area that divides the two Koreas, where they agreed to restarted denuclearisation talks.
Why is this happening now?
Pyongyang has recently again voiced anger over planned military exercises between South Korea and the US, an annual event which the allies have refused to cancel but have scaled back significantly.
One analyst said more missile tests could be expected.
“North Korea will continue to vent its anger by testing missiles… in the coming days before [the] drills begin in early August,” Harry Kazianis of Washington-based think tank the Centre for the National Interest said.
“[It’s] a message to Washington and Seoul: stop joint exercises or we will continue to show off our own offensive military capabilities.”
North Korea called the drills a “violation of the spirit” of the joint statement signed by Mr Trump and Mr Kim at their first face-to-face talks in Singapore last year.
Pyongyang had warned the exercises could affect the resumption of denuclearisation talks.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday that he hoped these talks could start “very soon”, but that there were no further summits planned.
Source: BBC
