The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired three short-range ballistic missiles eastward, Yonhap News Agency reported on Saturday, citing the Republic of Korea's (ROK) military.

The ROK's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from Chunghwa County, North Hwanghae Province, from 8 a.m. It did not provide other details.

"While strengthening our monitoring and vigilance, our military is maintaining a full readiness posture in close cooperation with the United States," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters.

Japan's coast guard said the DPRK fired what could be a ballistic missile and sent notice about a second possible missile. NHK reported that a second DPRK missile appeared to have landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

The DPRK fired the missile the day after the ROK's Defense Ministry announced it had successfully conducted a test flight of a solid-propellant space launch vehicle.

Not counting Saturday's launches, the DPRK has fired around 70 ballistic missiles this year, Yonhap said, including about eight intercontinental ballistic missiles.

DPRK's state media outlet KCNA has yet to make any mention of the firing, but said on Saturday that leader Kim Jong Un had presided over a party meeting on Friday to decide policy and strategy for 2023.

(With input from agencies)

(Cover: The DPRK People's Army frontline long-range artillery division and air force squadron during a fire attack training exercise, at an undisclosed location, October 6, 2022. /CFP)