Seoul: North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Wednesday, as reported by South Korea's military. This back-to-back launch occurred following President Lee Jae Myung's expression of regret over unauthorized drone flights into the North.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) detected the missiles launched from the Wonsan area around 8:50 a.m., with the missiles traveling approximately 240 kilometers. This marks North Korea's fourth confirmed ballistic missile launch in the current year.

The JCS stated that the military is closely monitoring North Korea's activities under a combined South Korea-U.S. defense posture, maintaining readiness to respond decisively to any provocations. South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities have been tracking the launch movements and sharing pertinent information closely.

The recent launch follows an unidentified projectile fired from the Pyongyang area on Tuesday, which is currently under analysis by South Korean and U.S. intelligence. The projectile reportedly failed shortly after launch. This sequence of events comes after President Lee's comments on Monday regarding drone flights into the North, which he acknowledged had escalated military tensions.

During a Cabinet meeting, President Lee expressed concern over the drone incidents, noting they had unnecessarily heightened tensions with Pyongyang. His comments came in the wake of three individuals being charged for unauthorized drone flights into North Korea between September and January.

In response to President Lee's remarks, Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, issued a statement recognizing Lee's "frank and broad-minded" approach. However, she cautioned Seoul against any provocations toward Pyongyang and emphasized the importance of refraining from attempts at contact, stressing the significance of peace and security.

The most recent ballistic missile launches occurred after North Korea's last multiple missile firing on March 14, coinciding with annual military drills by South Korea and the United States. State media later reported that North Korea conducted a firepower strike drill involving advanced multiple rocket launchers. Pyongyang has yet to release any official report concerning the recent missile launches.