North Korea fires cruise missiles into the sea after U.S.-South Korean military drills end

: North Korea launched cruise missiles into the sea in response to US-South Korea military drills. Kim Jong Un seeks to expand missile and nuclear arsenals to gain leverage in future diplomacy. UN sanctions on North remain in place.

North Korea launched several cruise missiles into the sea Saturday, South Korea's military said, extending its weapons testing activities in response to the United States-South Korea summer military drills.

South Korea's military detected the launches early Saturday morning off the North's west coast, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

The statement said South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities were analysing details of the launches. It said South Korea has boosted its surveillance posture and maintains a firm military readiness in close coordination with the United States.

The launches came two days after the U.S. and South Korean militaries wrapped up their 11-day training exercises that North Korea regards as a rehearsal for invasion. Washington and Seoul officials maintain their drills are defensive.

A day before the U.S.-South Korean training ended, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea in a launch it said was meant to simulate “scorched earth” nuclear strikes on South Korea. The North said it was separately holding a command post exercise aimed at rehearsing an occupation of South Korea's territory in the event of conflict.

On August 21, the day when the U.S.-South Korean drills began, North Korea's state media said its leader Kim Jong Un observed cruise missile launches.

North Korea's second attempt to place a military spy satellite in orbit failed August 24, but the country said it will make a third attempt in October.