North Korea fires two ballistic missiles into East Sea Wednesday night

The launching of the missile is the first in 37 days since North Korea fired two short range ballistic missiles on July 24.

Image of the short-range missiles fired from North Korea released by the North Korean state media, Korean Central News Agency on Thursday. [YONHAP]

North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missiles towards the East Sea, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday.

These missile launches were carried out in protest against the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise that commenced on Monday and is set to conclude on Thursday.

The South Korean military detected the missile launches between 11:40 and 11:50 p.m. Each missile traveled a distance of 360 kilometers (223.7 miles) before landing in the East Sea.

These missile launches are the first in 37 days since North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles on July 24.

North Korea on Thursday claimed it was conducting its own military drill in response to the joint exercise in South Korea.

The distance these missiles traveled are the same distances to the Korean military complex called Gyeryongdae, located in South Chuncheong.

Within Gyeryongdae, the headquarters of all three branches of the Korean military—the army, navy, and air force—are located.

In a photo released by the North Korean state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday, Kim Jong-un is seen pointing to a map before his officers, which appears to be Gyeryongdae.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un points the map of the Korean Peninsula during his visit to the North Korean military command post exercise. The location that Kim is pointing to is believe to be Gyeryongdae, a military complex that houses all three headquarters ? the army, navy and air force. [KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY]

According to KCNA, Kim Jong-un visited the North Korean military’s command post training on Tuesday.

“Saying that the busy military moves of the U.S. and the "ROK" military gangsters and their frequent and expanded military exercises under different codenames constitute a clear revelation of their scheme for invading the DPRK, he again stressed the need for the DPRK to thoroughly counter them,” KCNA quoted Kim.

KCNA reported that Kim stressed the "strategic initiative" to target “pivotal military command centers, military ports, operational airfields and other military targets.”

“The core objects whose destruction may cause a series of socio-political and economic chaos,” KNCA reported.

Since Monday, the South Korean and U.S. military forces have been conducting a joint exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield, which is scheduled to end Thursday.

This 11-day joint military drill is being conducted for the second consecutive year, following a five-year hiatus during the Moon Jae-in administration.

Wednesday's drill featured the deployment of U.S. strategic assets, including B-1B supersonic bombers.

The B-1B bomber, often referred to as the "swan of death," is one of the three primary strategic bombers in the U.S. Air Force, alongside the B-52 and B-2 bombers.

Not only can it reach speeds of nearly up to 1,500 kilometers per hour, but it also boasts the highest payload capacity, with a minimum of 34 tonnes.

North Korea has consistently reacted sensitively whenever the bomber arrived on the peninsula.

On Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un characterized the leaders of South Korea, the United States, and Japan as "gangsters."

He also alluded to the potential positioning of strategic nuclear weapons for combat readiness.

Capital Mechanized Infantry Division’s K1A2 battle tank fires a shell during the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield, at Cheolwon County in Gangwon on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]