The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Saturday, said the Republic of Korea (ROK)'s military.
The ROK's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) said the DPRK fired the two projectiles on Saturday at around 6:45 a.m. and 7:02 a.m. local time (2145, 2202 GMT on Friday) from around Sondok, South Hamgyong Province. Sondok is the site of a military airfield.
They flew about 380 kilometers and reached a height of 97 km, JSC said.
A U.S. official also said the DPRK fired two missiles that appeared to be short-range missiles, similar to launches in recent weeks.
The launches came a week after a separate round of missile tests.
Read more about the last launches:
ROK reports DPRK fires two 'unidentified projectiles'
Reactions
ROK expresses strong concern
The ROK's National Security Council (NSC) expressed "strong concern" over the DPRK's continued launches. It called for the DPRK to stop escalating military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The NSC agreed to make diplomatic efforts to bring the DPRK to the negotiating table with the United States as soon as possible for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the ROK's presidential office said in a statement.
Japan says it can't be ignored
Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said that the missile launches were a clear violation of UN resolutions and cannot be ignored. He also confirmed that the missiles fell outside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone, and posed no immediate threat to Japan's security.
The ROK officially informed Japan on Friday of its decision to scrap an intelligence-sharing agreement, which Iwaya said was regrettable and showed that Seoul failed to appreciate the growing security threat posed by the DPRK.
Japan's Coast Guard warned ships not to approach any fallen debris.
U.S.: Consulting with allies
A senior U.S. administration official said they are aware of reports of a missile launch from the DPRK, and continue to monitor the situation. "We are consulting closely with our Japanese and South Korean allies," the official said.
Trump said after the latest launches the United States has a good relationship with the DPRK. "Kim Jong Un has been [...] pretty straight with me," Trump told reporters at the White House.
UK: Disappointed by the launch
Britain said on Saturday it was "disappointed" after the DPRK fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea after vowing to remain the biggest "threat" to the United States.
"We are disappointed that North Korea (DPRK) has conducted further short-range ballistic missile tests, which violate multiple UN Security Council Resolutions," said the Foreign Office.
It urged Pyongyang to re-engage in talks with the U.S., adding that "complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization is the path for a peaceful and more prosperous future" for its people.
The launch comes a day after DPRK's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said that Pyongyang is ready for either dialogue or confrontation with the U.S., warning Washington that continuing with sanctions would be a miscalculation.
Read more:
DPRK says ready for dialogue or confrontation with U.S.
The DPRK has carried out several short-range missile tests in recent weeks in protest against the U.S.-ROK military exercises. The latest joint drill wrapped up on Tuesday.
Nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington have been gridlocked since a second summit between DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi in February collapsed without an agreement over the extent of denuclearization in the DPRK and sanctions relief.
Earlier this week, Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special envoy for the DPRK, said during a visit to Seoul that the U.S. was "prepared to engage" as soon as it hears from Pyongyang.
(With input from AFP, Reuters)