North Korea fires two ballistic missiles into Sea of Japan

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from near Pyongyang into the Sea of Japan Monday, Japan's Defense Ministry and South Korea's military said.

The missiles, launched from the Chunghwa County area in North Hwanghae Province, appear to have dropped outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone after flying on an irregular trajectory, Nippon quotes the ministry as saying.

The two missiles, launched on the evening of March 26, both reached an altitude of about 50 kilometres and travelled about 350 kilometres, according to the ministry.

The South Korean military said the missiles travelled about 370 kilometres. They could be the KN-23, a missile known for taking an irregular trajectory, South Korean media reported.

The missile launches came in apparent protest of ongoing amphibious landing training between the United States and South Korea and their planned joint drill involving a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.