NORTH KOREA launched two short-ranged ballistic missiles towards its eastern waters today in a resumption of weapons testing to protest against joint drills by South Korea and the United States.

The launches, reported by neighbouring countries, are the first in weeks.

South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said that the missiles were launched from North Korea’s capital region and travelled about 480 miles before landing in waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan.

It called the launches “a grave provocation” and said that South Korea’s military will maintain a firm readiness in close co-ordination with the US.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that the missiles landed inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

He called the launches a “violent action” that threatened international peace and safety.

The launches came hours after South Korean and US troops ended a fifth round of large-scale live-fire drills near the Koreas’ heavily fortified border.

About 30 minutes before the launches, North Korea’s military vowed an unspecified response to the drills, which it called “provocative and irresponsible.”

A Defence Ministry spokesperson said: “Our response is inevitable.

“Our armed forces will fully counter any form of demonstrative moves and provocation of the enemies.”