North Korea test-fires four missiles

North Korea on Friday test-fired four short-range missiles off its west coast, according to a Friday report.

{mosads}The short-range missiles traveled around 84 miles and plunged into the sea late on Friday afternoon, South Korea’s office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

“The projectiles are believed to be for a provocative show of force to pressure the South,” the office said in a statement, according to Reuters, noting that Pyongyang had launched a similar object on Thursday.

The state often carries out missile tests to protest joint U.S.-South Korean military drills, one of which, dubbed Foal Eagle, is ongoing.

Washington and Seoul maintain that their military drills are defensive in nature and not a rehearsal for invasion, as North Korea claims.

North Korea’s latest launches come days before Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is due to pay a three-day visit to South Korea in order to discuss Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear capabilities.