N. Korea fires ballistic missiles, warns on turning Pacific into 'firing range'

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles, Seoul said, Pyongyang's second launch in 48 hours as Kim Jong Un's powerful sister warned of turning the Pacific into a "firing range".

South Korea's military said they had detected the launch of "two short-range ballistic missiles fired from Sukchon areas in South Pyongan province".

Tokyo also confirmed the launch, with the Prime Minister's Office warning the North had launched "a suspected ballistic missile" and the coastguard issuing alerts over multiple projectiles. 

North Korea issued a statement soon after saying it had "fired two shots using 600mm multiple rocket launchers", into the East Sea, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

The launch comes less than 48 hours after Pyongyang conducted what it called a "surprise" drill to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile, which it said demonstrated North Korea's capacity to carry out a "fatal nuclear counterattack".

Japan said ICBM had flown for 66 minutes and landed in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In response, Seoul and Washington staged joint air drills, featuring a strategic bomber and stealth fighter jets.

North Korea gave its soldiers "an 'excellent mark'" for carrying out the "sudden launching drill", but South Korean analysts had pointed out the estimated nine hours between ordering and launch was not particularly rapid.