Officials in North Korea say they tested out a new type of cruise missile during a series of four launches on Thursday.
South Korean military spokesman Roh Jae-cheon said the launch was meant to show off Pyongyang's widening array of missiles and its "precision strike capabilities" on ships in response to the joint drills.
Thursday's launches came after two USA aircraft carriers deployed to waters off the Korean Peninsula as a show of force, recently left the Sea of Japan after holding joint exercises with Self-Defense Forces ships and fighter jets.
The missiles are the fourth new designs to be launched this year - and not all were successful.
The South Korean Committee for the Joint Implementation of the June 15 Summit Declaration had previously pushed ahead with a plan to hold an event in North Korea to celebrate the 17th anniversary of the June 15th South-North Joint Declaration.
Under Secretary of State Tom Shannon "affirmed the strength of the U.S. -Republic of Korea alliance" and "the need to sustain close coordination in addressing the threat from North Korea", during his meeting with South Korea's national security adviser Chung Eui-yong on June 1, a spokesperson told VOA.
North Korea's official media routinely reports on such missile launches the following day.
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KCNA added the missiles "accurately detected and hit the floating targets on the East Sea of Korea".
These tests have become a difficulty for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who has shown interest in reaching out to North Korea.
According to Pyongyang's propaganda arm, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the new explosive is a "cruise rocket " capable of "striking any enemy group of battleships".
North Korea, which could have a working nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile in the next few years, may also be the most urgent foreign policy concern for the Trump administration, which has been distracted by domestic political turmoil and has insisted China do more to rein in the North's weapons activities. On Monday, North Korea rejected a Seoul civic right group's offer to provide anti-malaria supplies. "The government will unwaveringly make efforts for complete denuclearization of North Korea's nuclear weapons through both sanctions and dialogue".
North Korea's global coal exports went down to zero in April, data released Friday shows, mainly due to China's recent decision to ban imports from its nuclear-armed neighbour for the rest of the year.
North Korea often accuses South Korea of kidnapping its citizens or enticing them to defect to the South. In the coming weeks, they launched a solid-fuel midrange missile that was described as "precision-guided", which experts say is equipped with a maneuverable terminal stage meant to combat missile defense systems like the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense that is deployed in South Korea.
A U.S. State Department spokeswoman suggested Thursday that the North Korean issue remained far from any solution. Its mission is to develop a missile able to deliver a nuclear warhead to the continental United States.
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