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

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.

Multiple short-range ballistic missiles were fired by North Korea from an area around its eastern port city of Wonsan, South Korean military officials said.