SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Sunday fired two short-range ballistic missiles into waters off its east coast early Sunday, Republic of Korea's military said.

"North Korea fired each one missile presumed to be Scuds from the vicinity of Wonsan, Gangwon Province, at about 4:50 am and 4:58 am into the East Sea," the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

"Their range is about 500 kilometers," it added.

According to a JCS official, the DPRK fired the missiles without designating no-sail zones, which the South Korean military view as a clear provocation.

The missiles landed in international waters northeast of the East Sea, the official said.

The launch came three days after the DPRK fired what were believed to be three short-range projectiles into the East Sea on Thursday.

It also marks the North's 11th firing of short-range missiles and the fourth ballistic missile launch this year.