North Korea fired four missiles near Japanese sea, says Shinzo Abe

North Korea has fired four ballistic missiles, three of which landed in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone, CNN quoted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as saying.

South Korea Defense Ministry spokesman Kwon Ki-joon, said that "several projectiles" flew about 1,000 kilometers.

According to South Korean Defense Ministry official, the firing took place in North Pyongan's Tongchang-ri province, and the projectiles are believed to have landed in the East Sea of Japan.

This comes as South Korea and the United States are currently holding their annual military exercises, known as Foal Eagle.

North Korea had already denounced this exercise through state media service KCNA.

"Now that the US imperialists and the South Korean puppet forces again kicked off the dangerous nuclear war drills against the DPRK at its doorstep, our army will counter them with the toughest counteractions," CNN quoted a statement.