North Korea has launched ballistic missiles off its east coast into the Sea of Japan, South Korea said on Thursday, as tensions continued to rise between the two countries.
The launches come days after the North threatened to resume frontline propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts and deploy new weapons along its border with the South.
On Monday, North Korean howitzer guns were seen close to the South Korean border in a "highly unusual move".
The launches also followed leader Kim Jong Un's surprise visit to China, the North's main ally and economic pipeline, to push for greater cooperation.
South Korea's joint chiefs of staff said around 10 short-range ballistic missiles were fired from the North's eastern costal town of Wonsan and flew for about 155 miles.
They added that the South's military maintained its readiness to repel any provocations by its rival under an alliance with the United States.
Japan's defence ministry added that it had detected a ballistic missile launch by the North.
Tensions between the North and South have increased since last month's land mine blasts at the border. Three South Korean soldiers were injured.
They were hurt in two explosions on 21 September in the western section of the heavily fortified buffer zone between the countries, known as the DMZ.
Seoul accused its neighbour of planting mines south of the military demarcation line and demanded an apology.
But Pyongyang denied responsibility for the explosions and warned of retaliation if provoked.
The threat to restart propaganda broadcasts was in protest at what it described as repeated warning shots by South Korean troops in border areas.
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The South later proposed talks on clarifying the border to prevent accidental clashes, but has not had a response.
During a visit to a South Korean border town earlier this week, journalists saw North Korean artillery guns located on the other side of the border, which were not previously visible.
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