North Korea test-fires two short-range missiles

Seoul says Pyongyang has fired two additional short-range missiles into the sea amid an ongoing joint drill by South Korea and the United States.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry said the two projectiles were launched from North Korea’s east coast and flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles) before landing in the high seas on Monday.

The new development comes after the North fired four short-range Scud missiles into the sea last Thursday.

North Korea routinely launches short-range missiles.

South Korean analysts say the latest launches are seen as a protest against the ongoing military drills between Seoul and Washington.

The two sides just finished a two-month long military drill on Friday.

The joint drills, dubbed Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, involved nearly 13,000 American forces and some 200,000 South Korean troops. They started on February 24.

North Korea has always slammed such war games as rehearsals for an invasion, but Seoul and Washington reject the idea, saying the military maneuvers are of a defensive nature.

Pyongyang has recently announced that it would strengthen its nuclear deterrence for self-defense in the face of US threats.