South Korea announced that the South Korean National Security Council held an emergency meeting today, Saturday, after North Korea launched several cruise missiles toward the Yellow Sea, according to a presidential official.

The South Korean news agency Yonhap reported from the official that the National Security Council meeting was chaired by Deputy National Security Advisor Lim Jong-deuk to discuss the readiness situation.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea's missile launches occurred around four in the morning, two days after the United States and South Korea concluded large joint military exercises.

South Korea and the United States concluded the drills named "Freedom Shield Ulchi," which lasted for 11 days, the day before yesterday, Thursday. North Korea condemned the exercises and regarded them as a "rehearsal" for invading its territory.