North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast today, global news agencies reported, citing the South Korean military and the Japanese coast guard.

Japan's coast guard said two projectiles believed to have been fired from North Korea landed in waters outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

The North Korean missiles flew at an altitude of 50 km and had a range of about 370 km.

The South Korean military said the missiles were fired from North Hwanghae Province at 7:47 a.m.

Seoul condemned the test as a "serious provocation" that threatens regional peace and violates UN Security Council resolutions.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered that information about the launch be collected and analyzed to ensure the safety of Japanese aircraft and ships, his office said.

For the seventh time this month, North Korea has fired missiles, stepping up its military demonstrations in response to military exercises by the United States and South Korea.

On Wednesday, Pyongyang fired several cruise missiles to practice tactical nuclear attacks.

And on Friday, it announced that a new nuclear-powered underwater attack drone had been tested.

At the same time, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned that joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States must stop.

The allies ended their regular spring drills, dubbed Freedom Shield 23, last week, but are continuing to conduct exercises, including amphibious exercises involving a US ship.

Pyongyang has long resented the allied exercises, which it says are preparations for an invasion of the North. 

South Korea and the United States say the drills are defensive.

North Korea has carried out 11 ballistic and cruise missile tests this year in an attempt to force the US to recognize it as a nuclear state and negotiate the lifting of sanctions from a position of strength.

Last year, the country conducted more than 70 missile tests, AP recalls.

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