DPRK launched four short-range ballistic missiles in the direction of the Yellow Sea, according to the South Korean military, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.

According to the military, the missiles were fired from the Tongrim region of the North Pyongan Province in the west of the nation between 11:32 and 11:59 am local time (02:32 and 02:59 GMT) on Saturday toward the Yellow Sea.

At a maximum speed of Mach 5, the projectiles traveled a distance of roughly 130 kilometers (80.8 miles) at a height of 20 kilometers. Other details are being specified by the relevant authorities of South Korea and the United States.

Pyongyang carried out 33 missile launches in total in 2022. Overnight on Wednesday, DPRK launched over 20 missiles, one of which came within striking distance of South Korean territorial seas while traveling through the South for the first time since the Korean War.

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DPRK announced it was in retribution for provocations by South Korea, which included recent joint drills with the US.

This comes after the US Defense Ministry official in Seoul announced that a US B-1B strategic bomber is set to participate in the joint air drills with South Korea on Saturday. 

The US and South Korea warned that the succession of launches could lead to a "nuclear test" by DPRK and have prolonged their largest-ever air force drills until Saturday.

As a South Korean Defense Ministry official reported to AFP, a US Air Force B-1B strategic bomber would participate on the last day of exercises, dubbed Vigilant Storm, which was scheduled from Monday to Friday this week.

"B-1B is scheduled to participate in the afternoon training," the official said, without providing further details.

Read next: DPRK rigorously warns US and South Korea amid Vigilant Storm drills