Seoul, July 25 (TIWN) North Korea on Thursday fired two short-range missiles into the East Sea in what appears to be a move designed to put pressure on the US and draw more concessions ahead of Pyongyang's possible nuclear talks with Washington, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

They were launched over the sea early on Thursday, from Wonsan on North Korea's east coast.  A JCS official said at least one of the missiles travelled about 690km (428 miles) and appeared to be a new design.  It marks the first time North Korea has fired any missiles since leader Kim Jong-un's impromptu meeting with Donald Trump late last month.  It also comes after anger from the North over planned military exercises between South Korea and the US, an annual event. The North warned they could affect the resumption of denuclearisation talks.  The first missile was launched at about 05:34 Thursday local time (20:34 GMT Wednesday) and the second at 05:57, said the JCS.