The South Korean Defense Ministry says North Korea has fired three short-range missiles toward the East Sea.

The ministry said that the North fired three guided missiles Saturday --- two in the morning and one in the afternoon --- from its east coast toward the northeast.

A ministry official says the ministry believes that the missiles fired were short-range missiles, not medium- or long-range missiles such as the Musudan missile. He said the military was maintaining heightened surveillance to respond to any provocations that may follow the North's missile launch.

The official said the North's missiles fell in the East Sea, adding that the launch may be part of a military exercise or a missile test.