Seoul's military reports North Korea has launched a pair of ballistic missiles in two separate volleys

North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles in two separate rounds on Wednesday, according to South Korea's military, which had previously detected an unidentified projectile launched from the Pyongyang area on Tuesday.

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This development comes after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has been working to improve relations with the North since taking office last year, with his administration expressing regret on Monday over civilian drone incursions into North Korean airspace in January.

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President Lee described the drone incident as "irresponsible" and acknowledged that government officials were involved in the operation, in an effort to diffuse tensions and improve relations with the North.

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Despite these overtures, analysts believe that the latest missile launches, which are North Korea's fourth and fifth known ballistic missile tests this year, indicate a rejection of Seoul's peace efforts.

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The South Korean military reported that the first launch was detected on Wednesday morning, with multiple unidentified ballistic missiles fired from the Wonsan area towards the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.

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These missiles were later confirmed to be short-range ballistic missiles, launched at around 8:50 am, which flew approximately 240 kilometres, according to the South Korean military.

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A second short-range ballistic missile was launched at around 2:20 pm, flying over 700 kilometres, the military said, as the Japan Coast Guard also reported an object suspected to be a ballistic missile launched from North Korea.

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The Japan Coast Guard warned ships to "remain vigilant" in response to the launch, while Seoul's Office of National Security held an emergency meeting to address the situation.

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The meeting resulted in a call for Pyongyang to immediately stop its provocations, as tensions between the two nations continue to escalate.

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On Monday, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, had described President Lee's expression of regret over the drone incident as "wise behaviour", but this sentiment was short-lived.

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By Tuesday, a senior North Korean official, Jang Kum Chol, was describing South Korea as "the enemy state most hostile" to Pyongyang, reviving a label previously used by Kim Jong Un.

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Jang Kum Chol also criticized South Korean media reports that described Kim Yo Jong's comments as an "exceptional friendly response", calling such interpretations "nonsense" and "hope-filled dream reading" by "world-startling fools".

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According to Lim Eul-chul, an expert on North Korea at Kyungnam University, the missile launches were a message from Pyongyang to Seoul that its anti-South stance remains firm despite Seoul's repeated overtures.

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Later on Wednesday, it was announced that China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, would visit North Korea on a two-day trip starting Thursday, ahead of an expected summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month.

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Speculation is growing about a potential meeting between Trump and Kim Jong Un around the same time, although Trump's comments on Seoul's level of support for his war in Iran have caused tension.

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Trump recently boasted about his relationship with Kim Jong Un, saying "we've got 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect (them) from Kim Jong Un, who I get along with very well", although the actual number of US troops in South Korea is around 28,500.

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Trump has met Kim three times in his first term and expressed a willingness to meet again, but his comments have so far gone unanswered by the North Korean leader.