North Korea fired two short range ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast on Sunday, with the launches taking place about three hours apart as tensions grow between Pyongyang and the United States and its regional allies.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said both missiles were launched from the Wonsan area on North Korea’s eastern coast. The first was detected at about 3pm local time and the second at about 5:50pm.

The first missile travelled about 450 kilometres before falling into the sea, while the second flew more than 600 kilometres, according to South Korea’s military. Japan’s Defence Ministry also detected the launches and said the missiles landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

South Korean and US intelligence authorities tracked the launches from their initial stages and exchanged information with Japan, according to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. Further analysis was under way to determine the missiles’ exact specifications.

Second missile test in about a week

Sunday’s launches marked North Korea’s second round of ballistic missile tests in little more than a week.

On 12 September, Pyongyang launched multiple short range ballistic missiles from the same eastern region. North Korean state media later said the exercise involved several weapons systems, including attack drones, tactical cruise missiles, large calibre multiple rocket launchers and tactical ballistic missiles.

South Korean authorities had initially assessed Sunday’s first missile as possibly belonging to North Korea’s Hwasong 11 family. The Hwasong 11 series comprises solid fuel short range ballistic missiles developed as part of Pyongyang’s expanding tactical weapons arsenal.

South Korea’s National Security Office convened an emergency security meeting following the launches and called on Pyongyang to halt further missile activity.

Seoul said the ballistic missile tests directly violated United Nations Security Council resolutions restricting North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Japan also lodged a protest with North Korea through diplomatic channels in Beijing.

Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the repeated launches threatened the peace and security of Japan, the region and the wider international community.

Pyongyang blames US led military exercises

The launches followed renewed criticism from North Korea of military exercises involving the United States, South Korea and Japan.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, condemned recent US led exercises and warned that Pyongyang would respond to what it regards as growing military pressure.

North Korea has specifically criticised the multinational Pacific Vanguard maritime exercises as well as other US led drills involving Seoul and Tokyo. Pyongyang has long portrayed such exercises as rehearsals for an attack, while the United States and its allies describe them as defensive.

Kim Yo Jong said last week that the exercises were contributing to worsening tensions on the Korean Peninsula and indicated that North Korea would continue strengthening its nuclear capabilities.

The launches also came after North Korea rejected a resolution concerning its nuclear programme adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency, reaffirming that it would not abandon its nuclear weapons programme.

Missile launches ahead of Trump Xi meeting

The tests took place days before US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet in Washington.

Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in renewing direct diplomacy with Kim Jong Un. The two leaders met three times during Trump’s first presidency, but negotiations ultimately stalled in 2019 over disagreements surrounding North Korea’s nuclear programme and international sanctions.

North Korea has so far resisted renewed negotiations, insisting that Washington must abandon what Pyongyang describes as its “hostile policy” and rejecting demands that it relinquish its nuclear arsenal.

The latest launches underscore the continuing military tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula as North Korea expands its missile and nuclear capabilities while Washington, Seoul and Tokyo deepen security cooperation.