North Korea fired two short-range missiles from Wonsan, Kangwon Province, into the East Sea on Thursday morning, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. In the photo released by North Korean state-run Korean Central Television (KCTV), a North Korean missile is being launched from a transporter erector launcher on May 9, 2019. KCTV-Yonhap

By Jung Da-min

North Korea launched two short-range missiles Thursday morning while North Korean military was conducting summer training, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

JCS said the two missiles were detected at around 5:34 a.m. and 5:57 a.m. respectively, from around Wonsan in Kangwon Province, both flying around 430 kilometers into the sea off its east coast. But the U.S. military authority was assessing that the second missile flew longer than 430 kilometers, the South's military authority added.

North Korea fires 'new type of ballistic missiles' 2019-07-25 16:49  |  Defense 'US won't impose additional sanctions on North Korea' 2019-07-26 15:37  |  North Korea
The missiles are speculated to be fired from transporter erector launchers (TELs), at an altitude around 50 to 60 kilometers, raising speculations that it is the same type of the missiles launched by the North in May.

On May 9, North Korea fired two short-range missiles which flew about 270 kilometers and 420 kilometers, respectively, both at an altitude around 50 kilometers. They were widely believed by military experts to be KN-23, a modified versions of a Russian Iskander which usually flies as far as 500 kilometers.

The U.S. and South Korean military authorities are analyzing more details.