North Korea fired two ballistic missiles early Sunday morning. Japanese defense officials say they believe the missiles fell into waters outside the country's exclusive economic zone.

South Korea's military says the North fired two short-range ballistic missiles from near the town of Munchon towards the Sea of Japan. This is North Korea's 25th launch of the year.

South Korean experts say that judging from the flight distance, altitude and speed, they may have been short-range ballistic missiles that the North calls "super-large rockets."

Japanese defense officials are examining the possibility that submarine-launched ballistic missiles were used.
A Japanese official said Tokyo lodged a strong protest through the North Korean embassy in Beijing.

Japanese State Minister of Defense Ino Toshiro said, "The series of acts by Pyongyang threaten the peace and security of Japan, the region and the international community. The actions are absolutely unacceptable."

The latest launches occurred after midnight. South Korea's Yonhap News Agency quoted an expert as saying the North probably wanted to demonstrate that it has the ability to fire a missile at a time and place of its choosing.

In late September, the US Navy deployed a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, to the Sea of Japan. Pyongyang has reacted sharply.

It launched ballistic missiles six times from September 25 to October 6. It fired a missile over Japan on Tuesday, for the first time in five years.