South Korea and the United States confirmed the launches on Wednesday.
North Korea launched a pair of missiles for the second time in a week.
The launches were confirmed to ABC News by a United States official and South Korean chiefs of staff. The US official said two ballistic missiles were fired at the Sea of Japan.
“North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles into the East Sea in South Hamkyung province this morning,” the South Korean government said in a statement. “South Korea and US intelligence are looking at any additional information.”
“Although our military has strengthened awareness and monitoring, ROK-US [officials] are working together and maintaining readiness, “he added.
At least one was a medium-range ballistic missile, a US official told ABC News.
One may be a new variant, the official told ABC News, but it is unclear exactly what type of ballistic missiles were launched. South Korean officials said the missiles traveled about 450 kilometers at an altitude of 60 kilometers.
“We are aware of the North Korean missile launches this morning in the East Sea,” said Captain Mike Kafka, a spokesman for the United States Indo-Pacific Command, in a statement. “We will continue to monitor the situation and consult with our allies and partners. This activity highlights the threat that North Korea’s illicit weapons program poses to its neighbors and the international community. The US commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remains armored. “
North Korea also fired two short-range missiles on Saturday and Sunday, although the launches were not reported by the United States until Tuesday.
Biden government officials downplayed missile launches over the weekend.
“We see this action in the category of normal activity,” a senior government official told reporters.
The weekend launches were the first since President Joe Biden moved to the White House. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited South Korea last week to discuss the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
The previous government had a strained relationship with North Korea. Former President Donald Trump held several meetings with dictator Kim Jong Un during his tenure, the first president to do so.
Kim has not carried out any long-range missile tests since Trump met him in 2018, although he has restarted smaller missile tests under Trump’s administration.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is expected to hold talks in Washington with his colleagues in Japan and South Korea next week about the next steps to be taken in relation to North Korea.
Martha Raddatz of ABC News contributed to this report.