Seoul, 27 March 2023 (dpa/MIA) - North Korea has fired two short-range ballistic missile towards the waters off its eastern coast, the South Korean military said on Monday.

The army said that two missiles were fired from Chunghwa, south of Pyongyang, towards the East Sea, as the Sea of Japan is also known, according to the Yonhap news agency. It was not initially known how far the missiles flew.

UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from testing ballistic missiles of any range, which - depending on their design - can also be equipped with a nuclear warhead.

The situation on the Korean peninsula is currently very tense. In the past few weeks nuclear-armed North Korea has conducted a string of missile tests in response to ongoing US military exercises with South Korea. Both deny Pyongyang's accusations that they are preparing for an attack.

The two allied countries, in turn, accuse North Korea of serious provocation.

Observers fear that Pyongyang's first nuclear test in years is imminent.