North Korea has fired two projectiles into the sea, South Korea's military has said.

Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said they were launched from an area near its neighbour's east coast, the country's semi-official Yonhap news agency reported.

Based on initial information it appeared to be similar to previous short-range missiles fired by Pyongyang, a US official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Another senior US administration official added: "We are aware of reports of a missile launch from North Korea, and we continue to monitor the situation. We are consulting closely with our Japanese and South Korean allies."

The latest launch comes shortly after Donald Trump said he had received a "very beautiful letter" from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits Show all 16 1 /16 North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, portraits of former supreme leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are required by law to be hung in the home, the classroom, the factory and all manner of other private and public places Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the classroom AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the living room AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the maternity ward of the hospital Alamy North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits On board the ship Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits At the ballot box Mannen av börd North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the office AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits On the bridegroom Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits On the Pyongyang subway Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits On a government building Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the teacher training facility AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the home AFP/Getty North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits At the military parade Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits In the hall Reuters North Korea's pervasive leaders: the Kim portraits At the Chinese border AFP/Getty

The secretive communist state has fired a series of missiles and rockets since the leaders agreed at a June 30 meeting to revive stalled denuclearisation talks.

Mr Trump played down the recent North Korean weapons launches when he spoke to reporters earlier on Friday, saying: "I say it again: There have been no nuclear tests. The missile tests have all been short-range. No ballistic missile tests. No long-range missiles."

Claiming he could have another meeting with Mr Kim the US president said his counterpart was "not happy" about the missile tests and joint military exercises conducted by the US and South Korean militaries this month.

The largely computer-simulated drills were conducted as an alternative to previous large-scale annual operations that were halted to expedite denuclearisation talks.

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North Korea decries such exercises as a rehearsal for war aimed at toppling its leadership.

The pariah state described recent test-firings as a new rocket artillery system and short-range ballistic missile launches.