North Korea fires two ballistic missiles toward the East Sea

North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Friday. South Korean defense authorities were analyzing the launch as of press time Friday...

Passersby watch a televised news about North Korean military launch at the Seoul Station on Monday. [NEWS1]

North Korea fired two missiles toward the East Sea on Friday.

They were launched from Sunan in Pyongyang at 4:32 p.m.

One flew 250 kilometers (155 miles) and the other 350 kilometers. No other details were provided by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

"We condemn them and call for an immediate stop," the JCS said according to Yonhap. "Our military will maintain a solid readiness posture based on capabilities to respond overwhelmingly to any North Korean provocations."

Japanese media reported a single missile launch, with the projectile reaching an altitude of 50 kilometers and flying 300 kilometers toward the east.

"Since the beginning of this year, North Korea has repeatedly launched missiles at an unprecedentedly high frequency, significantly increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Friday evening, adding that Tokyo had protested the move via North Korea's embassy in Beijing, according to The Japan Times.

The North fired two missiles on Sunday, also toward the East Seas, and later said that they were reconnaissance satellites.

Launches this year now total 67.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]