North Korea's KN-23 short-range ballistic missile, similar to the Russian Iskander, is being launched in this photo released by Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency in January 2021. Pyongyang launched ballistic missiles repeatedly this week, two on Wednesday and one on Sunday, in what is seen as a show of force against joint naval drills between South Korea and the United States. Yonhap

By Yi Whan-woo

North Korea launched what appear to have been two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea, Wednesday, apparently in another show of force against the latest joint military drills between South Korea and the United States.

The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launches of two North Korean missiles from the Sunan area of Pyongyang between 6:10 p.m. and 6:20 p.m.

The missiles traveled a distance of 360 kilometers after reaching a maximum altitude of 30 kilometers at a top speed of Mach 6, according to the JCS.

"The military has strengthened monitoring activities and vigilance and is maintaining a full readiness posture in close cooperation with the U.S.," it added.