Japan's Defense Ministry says it believes the ballistic missiles North Korea launched on Monday were a solid-fuel, short-range type that Pyongyang last tested in March 2020.

The ministry on Tuesday released an analysis of the information it has obtained so far. It says the missiles were launched from western North Korea in an eastward direction three minutes apart on Monday morning.

The missiles are believed to have reached a maximum altitude of about 50 kilometers, and likely flew about 300 kilometers, presuming a normal ballistic trajectory.

Ministry officials say both missiles are thought to have landed off the east coast of North Korea, outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

They believe North Korea launched the same type of solid-fuel, short-range ballistic missiles twice in August 2019 and most recently in March 2020.

North Korea has test-fired six ballistic missiles in four launches this year.

Japan's Defense Ministry says it will continue gathering and studying intelligence and conducting surveillance of North Korea's military activities in close cooperation with the United States and other countries.