North Korea on June 14 test-fired three missiles into the sea off its east coast, just weeks after Pyongyang announced a successful test-fire of a ballistic missile from a submarine.

A North Korean missile test. (Photo: AFP).

AFP on June 14 quoted a spokesman for the South Korean Ministry of Defense as saying that North Korea had just test-fired three short-range KN-01 missiles from Wonsan city into the East Sea of ​​the country.

According to the official, the missile test-launch began at 4:30 p.m. on June 14 (local time) and lasted about 26 minutes. The missile tested, KN-01, is said to have a range of nearly 100 kilometers.

South Korea also said it is "closely monitoring the movements of the North Korean military and is always ready for provocations."

The missile test came just weeks after North Korea announced on May 9 that it had successfully fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).

SLBM technology could take North Korea's nuclear deterrence to a new level, as it would allow Pyongyang to retaliate against a nuclear attack and deploy nuclear weapons outside the Korean Peninsula.

However, some experts doubt the authenticity of the May 9 test launch, and say the photos may have been edited.

(According to AFP/Dan Tri)