A senior government official says North Korea test-fired two short-range missiles in South Hamgyung Province, not near the Chinese border as claimed by Japanese media.

The official said Thursday that the missiles were fired near the province's city of Hamheung and flew a hundred kilometers before falling into the East Sea.

He said he believes the launches were not intentional but part of a routine test, thus they do no pose a threat.

Reports say the missiles were similar to the new KN-02 that the North launched in May last year towards the East Sea.