New Delhi, April 8 -- North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Wednesday, its second launch event in two days, the Associated Press (AP) reported, citing South Korea's military.

The strikes came hours after a senior North Korean official released crude insults against Seoul's hopes for warmer relations.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said several missiles lifted off from North Korea's eastern coastal Wonsan area on Wednesday morning and flew about 240 kilometres (150 miles) each in a direction toward the North's eastern waters.

An additional North Korean ballistic missile fired later Wednesday travelled more than 700 kilometres (435 miles) off the North's east coast, it said.

South Korea's milit...