South Korea's military says Pyongyang has launched two ballistic missiles off its east coast.

Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the incident just after midday on Friday. The South Korean military says the North fired two short-range ballistic missiles from around Thongchon in North Korea's Kangwon Province toward the sea off the Korean Peninsula.

It says the launches took place between 11:59 a.m. and 12:18 p.m. on Friday.

Sources close to the Japanese government say the missiles did not fly near the country's exclusive economic zone or its waters, and there are no reports of any damage.

Japan's Defense Ministry says it is monitoring the situation.

North Korea has ramped up its ballistic missile program this year. It has conducted an unprecedented number of launches, despite warnings from regional powers and the international community.