SEOUL: North Korea fired `around a dozen` short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Thursday, Seoul`s defence ministry said, less than a week after South Korea proposed talks over a growing border row.

The launches follow a slew of recent weapons tests by Pyongyang, including a new precisionguided torpedo system and an intermediaterange hypersonic missile, both of which were said to employ AI technology.

South Korea`s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said its military detected `around a dozen shortrange ballistic missiles fired from the Wonsan area of North Koreatowards the East Sea`, the body of water also known asthe SeaofJapan.

The missiles flew about 250 kilometres, and `South Korea and the United States are conducting a detailed analysis of their exact specifications`, Seoul`s military said, adding it had stepped up surveillance of possible additional launches. The Japan Coast Guard had earlier urged ships in the area to be vigilant.

Seoul`s National Security Office, meanwhile, said the launches violated UN Security Council resolutions, labelling them `serious acts that do nothing to help manage the current situation`.-AFP