​North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles into the sea east of the Korean Peninsula, the South Korean military said, the BBC reports. This latest launch comes five days after North Korea launched drones into South Korean airspace for the first time since 2017.

North Korea has launched more missiles than ever this year.

Washington said the latest missile launches did not pose an immediate threat to the US or its allies.

Three short-range ballistic missiles were launched around 08:00 local time (23:00 GMT) from North Hwanghae province, south of the capital Pyongyang, South Korea’s General Staff said. “The launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea is a serious challenge that undermines peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as in the international community,” the quoted source added, according to News.ro.

The missiles flew about 350 km (217 miles), the South Korean military said. Earlier, the Japanese Coast Guard said that the missile fell into the sea.

This week, South Korea’s military apologized for not shooting down five drones that North Korea had sent across the border.

Seoul fired warning shots and sent in attack planes and helicopters to shoot down the drones, one of which flew near the capital.

Earlier this month, the US and its Asian allies imposed sanctions on three high-ranking North Korean officials linked to recent missile tests.

Relations between North and South Korea have soured since the conservative government of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in May, pledging a tougher stance toward Pyongyang.

North Korea has become more assertive under Kim Jong Un, who has overseen much of the recent development of its military program. He recently said he wants his country to have the most powerful nuclear force in the world and declared it an “irreversible” nuclear power.