North Korea fires ‘8 ballistic missiles’

North Korea launched eight ballistic missiles from multiple locations yesterday, South Korea's military said, a day after Seoul and Washington completed their first joint drills involving a US aircraft carrier in more than four years.

Pyongyang has doubled down on upgrading its weapons programme this year, despite facing crippling economic sanctions, with officials and analysts warning that the regime is preparing to carry out a fresh nuclear test.

"Our military detected eight short-range ballistic missiles fired by North Korea," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

The missiles were launched from multiple locations over a 30-minute period, including Sunan in capital Pyongyang, Tongchang-ri in North Pyongan province, and Hamhung in South Hamgyong province, they said.

They travelled different distances -- from 110 kilometres (68 miles) to 670 kilometres -- and flew at different altitudes of up to 90 kilometres, it added.

Analysts say the volley of missile launches yesterday -- one of nearly 20 weapons tests by Pyongyang so far this year -- is a pointed message for Seoul and Washington.

"It shows North Korea's intention to neutralise the missile defence system of South Korea and the United States with multiple simultaneous attacks during emergency," said Cheong Seong-jang, a researcher at the Sejong Institute.