North Korea has fired several short-range missiles from its Eastern Coast, according to the South Korean military.

In a statement, the military said the projectiles were fired from Wonsan on the east coast at around 9am local time on Saturday.

It said they traveled up to 200km before landing in the ocean.

It is confirmed as the firing of a banned ballistic missile, it will be Pyongyang’s first such launch since it tested an intercontinental ballistic missile in November 2017.

Seoul has bolstered its surveillance operations in case there are further missile launches – and the country is analysing the details along with US authorities.

Japan’s defence ministry said the projectiles were not a security threat and did not reach anywhere near the country's coast.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un takes a moment of silence during a wreath-laying ceremony in Vladivostok, Russia, 26-04-2019. image: Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP

Analysts believe the North may be trying to increase pressure on Washington following the failed Summit between the country’s leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in Vietnam earlier this year.

The secretive state is demanding relief from widespread economic sanctions in return for nuclear disarmament – however the US has insisted the moves it has made so far are insufficient.

North Korean officials have been becoming increasingly frustrated with diplomatic talks in recent months – criticising US National Security Adviser John Bolton and calling for US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to be removed from negotiations.

US President Donald Trump meets North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, 27-02-2019. Image: AP Photo/ Evan Vucci

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that the US was aware of North Korea's actions and would continue to monitor the situation.

Last month, Kim Jong Un met Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok to discuss denuclearisation – with the Russian leader saying that Pyongyang needed security guarantees before moving forward.

President Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart by phone overnight to discuss the ongoing situation in Venezuela.

With reporting From IRN ...