North Korea has fired two short range missiles in a second apparent show of displeasure with US-South Korean joint exercises that began last week.

朝鲜发射了两枚短程导弹，再次明确表示出对上周开始的美韩联合军演的不满。

The South Korean defence ministry said two missiles were fired from near the post city of Wonsan at 6.19am on Monday. They travelled more than 500 kilometres into the ocean, but did not appear to be targeting South Korean vessels.

韩国国防部表示，两枚导弹周一早晨6时19分自边防城市元山附近射出。导弹飞行500多公里后落入海洋，但似乎并不是针对韩国船只。

This comes after North Korea performed a similar exercise on Friday, firing four short-range missiles.

上周五，朝鲜采取类似的行动，发射了四枚短程导弹。

The defence ministry also said South Korea was monitoring the situation, with no special alert footing declared.

韩国国防部还表示，韩国正在监控局势，但并未宣布进入特别警戒状态。

North Korea typically protests strongly against the annual major exercises by US and South Korean troops, which it labels preparation for an invasion.

朝鲜通常会强烈抗议美韩军队一年一度的大型联合军事演习，认为这是在为侵略做准备。

Its ambassador to London warned early last month that the joint exercises may bring the peninsula "to the brink of war", echoing bellicose rhetoric that grabbed global media attention last year.

上月初，朝鲜驻伦敦大使曾警告称，联合军演可能将朝鲜半岛“拖到战争边缘”。这与去年引起全球媒体注意的好战言论遥相呼应。

However, Pyongyang has made a series of statements over the past two months stressing its desire to improve relations with Seoul, and last month it hosted the first reunions of families divided by the inter-Korean border since 2010.

但平壤方面在过去两个月内接连发表声明，强调有意与韩国改善关系。上月，它举行了2010年以来的首次朝韩离散亲人团聚。

The South Korean ministry of defence said the joint exercises will continue as planned.

韩国国防部表示，联合军演将按计划继续进行。