In picture, North Korea’s Hwasong-16 Intercontinental ballistic missile. Credit: Stefan Krasowski / WikiCommons.

North Korea has reportedly test fired two ballistic missiles across its east coast, just days after it tested new long-range cruise missiles.

This is said to be the reclusive nation’s first ballistic missile test since March.

According to a Reuters report, South Korean and Japanese officials said that North Korea launched a pair of unidentified ballistic missiles that fell in the sea off its east coast.

South Korean and US authorities are currently conducting detailed analysis for further information, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed in a statement.

Japan condemned the missile launch and highlighted that the move is detrimental to peace and stability in the region.

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Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was quoted by CNBC as saying: “It is in violation of UN Security Council resolution, and I strongly protest and condemn this.

“We will work closely with the US, South Korea, and other concerned nations to resolutely protect the lives of our citizens and their peaceful lives.”

Separately, the US armed forces’ Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) noted that the launch highlights the destabilising impact of North Korea’s weapons programme.

However, it added that the event does not pose an immediate threat to US personnel, territory or its allies in the region.

Hours later, South Korea announced that it tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

The SLBM was fired from a new 3,000t Dosan Ahn Changho-class submarine that was commissioned last month.

The test makes South Korea the first non-nuclear armed state to develop such a system, reported Reuters.

Earlier this week, North Korea tested newly developed long-range cruise missiles that hit targets around 1,500km away.