Seoul says North Korea fires 7 missiles into sea again amid US-South Korea military drills

A South Korean man watches a TV news program showing the file footage of the missile launch conducted by North Korea, at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 13, 2015. South Korea says North Korea has test fired seven missiles into the sea. A South Korean defense ministry official said Friday that the surface-to-air missiles launched from North Korea late Thursday flew into waters off the eastern coast. The writing on the screen reads: "Launched 200 kilometers missile." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (The Associated Press)

A South Korean man watches a TV news program showing the file footage of the North Korean missiles on a military parade at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 13, 2015. South Korea says North Korea has test fired seven missiles into the sea. A South Korean defense ministry official said Friday that the surface-to-air missiles launched from North Korea late Thursday flew into waters off the eastern coast. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (The Associated Press)

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea says North Korea has test fired seven missiles into the sea.

A South Korean defense ministry official said Friday that the surface-to-air missiles launched from North Korea late Thursday flew into waters off the eastern coast.

North Korea routinely test launches missiles, rockets and artillery but the latest launch came as South Korea and the U.S. are conducting annual drills that Pyongyang calls an invasion rehearsal. Seoul and Washington say the drills are for defense.

North Korea fired two short-range missiles on the first day of the drills earlier this month and warned of "merciless" strikes against South Korea and the U.S. The military exercises are scheduled to continue until late April.