North Korea has fired various types of short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern sea, according to South Korea's military, which was analyzing whether the tests were linked to the North’s weapons exports to Russia amid the prolonged aggression in Ukraine.

North Korea launched a series of short-range ballistic missiles during a nuclear counterstrike drill overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, in what state media said was a response to recent nuclear exercises by the United States and South Korea.

North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea between Korea and Japan on Thursday morning, Seoul's military said, in what officials characterized as a possible test ahead of export to Russia.