Two ground-to-ship missiles were fired from the eastern coastal city of Wonsan.

The North also fired a third missile later from the east coast, but the exact site and the type of a rocket was not immediately known. This was followed by a fourth.

Yonhap news agency reported all four missiles flew about 100 kilometers and identified them as KN-01 missiles with a range of up to 160 kilometers.

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North Korea had earlier called for a no-sail zone in waters off its east coast through July 10 for military drills. That designation was viewed as a prelude to such missile tests.

The launches came as North Korea's relations with the United States, South Korea and other countries were already severely strained after its May 25 underground nuclear test and a series of missile firings. The UN Security Council adopted a tough sanctions resolution last month to punish the communist regime.

In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso called the missile launches "provocative acts" and urged the North to refrain.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko also expressed concern over the North's missile launches, saying, "We have always asked North Koreans to abstain from actions that may exacerbate the situation."

A US envoy held talks in Beijing yesterday with Chinese officials about UN sanctions but declined to comment on Pyongyang's latest missile launches.

China is Pyongyang's closest ally and largest source of fuel and food aid, and its cooperation in enforcing sanctions is seen as crucial to increasing pressure meant to push North Korea back to stalled nuclear disarmament talks.

ASSOCIATED PRESS