North Korea fires TWO ballistic missiles towards sea in fresh tests, Seoul says

NORTH Korea has fired two ballistic missiles towards the sea, it is claimed.

The rogue state launched both early in the day and less than hours apart from one another, Seoul said.

It comes days after South Korea and US leaders agreed to scaleup joint military drills and deployment of American weapons.

US president Joe Biden and his new South Korean counterpart, Yoon Suk-yeol, agreed the scale-up to deter North Korea's intensifying weapons tests.

Last week the White House predicted North Korea could launch a missile or nuclear test during Biden's visit to Japan and South Korea.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said it was a "genuine possibility" in remarks on Wednesday.

"We are preparing for all contingencies, including the possibility that such a provocation would occur while we are in Korea or in Japan," Sullivan said.

North Korea resumed testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles earlier this year, but has not tested a nuclear bomb since 2017.

Earlier in May, three ballistic missiles were fired by North Korea off its east coast into the sea.

But the country is currently dealing with a huge Covid outbreak.

Biden and Suk-yeol also offered to send Covid vaccines to it.