Japan's Defense Ministry officials say North Korea launched three ballistic missiles on Saturday morning. They say the missiles appear to have fallen into the Sea of Japan outside the country's exclusive economic zone.

The officials say the missiles were launched from around 8:01 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. on Saturday from near the capital Pyongyang.

They say the missiles were fired in a northeastern direction and flew for about 350 kilometers before dropping in the sea off the Korean Peninsula's east coast. Their maximum altitude is estimated to have been about 100 kilometers.

There have been no reports of damage to Japanese vessels and aircraft so far.

Saturday's launch is the 37th firing of ballistic missiles by North Korea this year and the first since December 23.

Ministry sources say the latest launch is possibly a reaction to South Korea's testing of a solid-fuel rocket on Friday.