The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that the detected missiles left the launch pad from the Sunan area of North Korea and flew towards the Sea of Japan. The launch was recorded at about 1:20 pm local time.
The agency said that the South Korean military is maintaining a state of readiness and continues to share information about North Korea's missile launches with the US and Japan to strengthen surveillance activities.
According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the missiles fell into the sea and were outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.
North Korea has not yet made an official response to this information.
This is the 3rd time North Korea has launched a ballistic missile this year. The launch took place in the context of the US and South Korea conducting a spring military exercise called "Freedom Shield". The exercise began on March 9 and is expected to last until March 19 with the participation of about 18,000 soldiers.
North Korea regularly criticizes joint military exercises between the US and South Korea, saying that this is an activity simulating an invasion.
Ms. Kim Yo Jong - younger sister of North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un - warned that the exercise could cause "unimaginable terrible consequences", according to information published by North Korean Central News Agency KCNA.
Recently, North Korea has continuously shown military capabilities. North Korean President Kim Jong Un declared that the country will focus on developing projects to increase the number of nuclear weapons.
The most recent time, North Korea launched a ballistic missile before this event took place on January 27. At that time, Pyongyang said the operation was aimed at testing an improved large-sized multiple rocket launcher system.
