SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea says North Korea has fired two additional short-range missiles into the sea amid ongoing military exercises between Seoul and Washington.

The Defense Ministry says that two projectiles blasted from the North's east coast flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles) before landing in the high seas on Monday.

The latest launches come after South Korea's announcement that North Korea fired four short-range Scud missiles into the North's waters last Thursday.

South Korean analysts say the launches weren't expected to raise tension because they were largely aimed at protesting the South Korea-U.S. drills and testing its weapons systems. The North calls the annual drills a rehearsal for invasion though South Korea and the U.S. have denied that.

North Korea routinely tests short-range missiles.