Kim Jong Un inspected the demonstration of a “new-type tactical guided weapon” on Thursday as a warning to South Korean “warmongers” to stop importing weapons and conducting joint military drills, a message that analysts said was also aimed at the United States.

The short-range missiles were fired into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, from Wonsan on North Korea’s east coast.

Leader Kim Jong-un said his country was forced to develop weapons to “eliminate potential and direct threats”.

He said the test involved a new tactical guided weapons system.

Mr Kim’s comments, reported in state media, come after the North criticised a decision by South Korea and the US to hold military drills next month.

North Korea has long regarded the drills as preparation for an invasion.

Though the US and South Korea have refused to cancel the annual military exercises, they have been scaled back significantly.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said one of the new missiles travelled about 690km (428 miles). The US also confirmed that the missiles were “short-range”.