North Korea fired what appeared to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, South Korea's military said on Thursday, possibly to test the performance and stability of various projectiles intended for export.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Thursday fired several ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters, South Korea’s military said, adding to a run of weapons tests that have raised animosity in the region.

North Korea has fired a flurry of ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan from its east coast, South Korea’s military has claimed. Several short-ranged weapons were reportedly shot from the northern half of the Korean peninsula in what Seoul called a potential test of weapons intended for export.