North Korea has fired two short-range missiles into the East Sea (Sea of Japan), defence officials in Seoul say of the second such launch in three days.
The missiles were fired from the southeastern coast near Wonsan and were thought to be Scuds with a range of 500 kilometres, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
There was speculation in South Korea that the tests were muscle flexing by the North ahead of a visit to Seoul by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is to meet South Korean President Park Geun Hye on Thursday.
China is seen as North Korea's closest ally, but there have been reports of frustrations in Beijing at Pyongyang's behaviour, especially its threats to carry out its fourth nuclear test in response to UN censure of missile launches three months ago.
In March, the North fired two ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast in protest of regular joint military drills between South Korea and the United States, which it condemned as a rehearsal for an invasion.
China's Communist Party insists that it retains only limited influence over North Korea's Stalinist regime.
UN Security Council resolutions ban North Korea from launching ballistic missiles.
Pyongyang already carried out atomic tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013.
Sunday's launches followed firings on Thursday of three short-range missiles, the 11th test launch this year, the Yonhap News Agency reported.
North Korea said on Friday that it had successfully tested a new guided missile.
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