The new tests come a day after South Korea suspended deployment of a controversial USA missile defence system - an apparent concession to China, which is strongly opposed to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.
Nations that are "concerned" by North Korea's continuous missile tests should refrain from taking "any action that could escalate regional tensions", China's Foreign Ministry said on June 8.
On Thursday, the North fired what appeared to be several short-range anti-ship cruise missiles from its east coast in the latest series of missile tests in defiance of global sanctions, according to the South Korean military.
The North's ramped-up pace of nuclear and missile tests have also stoked concern in Tokyo, prompting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to characterize Pyongyang's weapons push as "a new level of threat".
The UN Security Council added 15 people and four entities linked to North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes to a blacklist.
According to USA Today, the launch marked the fourth new missile system introduced and successfully tested this year alone.
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 described the latest United Nations sanctions as "mean" and warned they would not stop its missile and nuclear weapons programmes.
"North Korea likely wanted to show off its ability to precisely target a large warship, in relation to the joint military drills involving USA aircraft carriers", Roh Jae-cheon, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman told a media briefing.
Pentagon chief says NKorea's nuclear pursuits a 'danger'
Dean further touched on Washington's military buildup in different parts of the world, including near the Russian border.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the rockets - probably cruise missiles - were fired from the eastern port of Wonsan and flew about 200 kilometres.
The two who told authorities they wanted to defect to South Korea were a man in his 50s and his son in his 20s, an official from the ministry, which handles relations with North Korea, said by telephone.
Four extended range Scud missiles lift off from their mobile launchers in Tongchang-ri in North Pyongan Province, North Korea. North Korea fired several suspected short-range anti.
"The series of recent strategic weapons tests show that we are not too far away from test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile", the Rodong Sinmun said in an editorial.
"We remain determined to move ahead with our partners at the Security Council", he added.
According to Pyongyang, the launch was a test of this new ship-killing missile.
Moon had also promised to review the deployment of the THAAD system in South Korea, a decision that was made by the government of his conservative predecessor, Park Geun-hye.
Undated released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on December 11, 2016.
The future of the program has been uncertain since South Korea announced the suspension.
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