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North Korea has launched short-range missiles into the East Sea, according to South Korea's military.
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Three projectiles were fired from the eastern Kangwon province at around 6:49 a.m. local time, said the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
They flew for more than 250 kilometers in a northeastern direction, the military statement added.
South Korea and U.S. militaries are analyzing additional information.
Pyongyang's latest move was immediately reported to the South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
The Japanese broadcaster NHK said the projectiles did not appear to be objects that could threaten Japan's safety.
The launch comes amid an easing of tension after weeks of harsh exchanges between North Korea and the United States following the North's leader Kim Jong Un threat to fire missiles into the sea near the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.
Kim's rhetoric prompted the U.S. President Donald Trump to warn the North it should be "very, very nervous" if it does anything to his country.
Trump said Pyongyang would be in trouble "like few nations have ever been" if they do not "get their act together".
On Wednesday, Kim ordered the production of more rocket engines and missile warheads during a visit to a chemical institute of the Academy of Defense Science, an agency that he fostered to develop its ballistic missile program.
Diagrams and what appeared to be missile parts shown in photographs published in the North's state media suggested Pyongyang was going ahead with building a longer-range ballistic missile that could potentially reach any part of the U.S. mainland.
It is also believed to be developing a solid-fuel missile that could be used for submarine launches.
North Korea, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK, as it prefers to be called, ratchets up the rhetoric annually in August to coincide with South Korea's joint military exercises with U.S. forces.
Pyongyang sees the drills as a hostile act and has denounced them as a “rehearsal for war.”
Tens of thousaands of U.S. and South Korean troops have been taking part in Ulchi Freedom Guardian since Monday.
Seoul and Washington say the drills are an opportunity for the allies to improve their defensive capabilities.
But North Korea’s official KCNA news agency said they were proof of Washington’s intention to invade.
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