North Korea launched a series of short-range cruise missiles into the sea off its east coast on the eve of the 108th anniversary of the birth of the nation’s founder, Kim Il-Sung.

Fighter jets also fired several air-to-surface missiles in what appeared to be a military exercise ahead of South Korean elections due to take place on Wednesday.

It is the latest in a series of weapons tests in recent weeks amid concerns supreme leader Kim Jong-un is covering up a serious coronavirus outbreak.

Pyongyang has insisted not one person in the country has been infected with Covid-19, despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

Experts believe the missile launches are a show of strength during a difficult time for Kim amid stalled nuclear talks with the US and continuing sanctions.

Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un rides a horse during snowfall in Mount Paektu in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on 16 October 2019 Reuters Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un visits the newly built Pyongyang Orphans' Primary School on 2 February 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects a women's company under Unit 5492 of the Korean People's Army in November 2019 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects the test-fire of intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 at an undisclosed location in July 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un celebrates the successful test-fire of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 at an undisclosed location in July 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects a potato at the Samjiyon Potato Factory in North Korea in October 2018 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un rides a horse through a forest in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on 16 October 2019 EPA Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects a block of frozen fish at a processing facility in North Korea in November 2018 Reuters Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un celebrates the succeful launch of a strategic submarine-launched ballistic missile in August 2016 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un shakes hands with Donald Trump as they meet for the first time at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore in June 2018 Reuters Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump share a glance as they meet in the Demilitarised Zone in Panmunjon, Korea in June 2019 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects mushrooms at Pyongyang Mushroom Farm AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects a super-large multiple rocket launcher ahead of a test in September 2019 Reuters Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects an apple farm in South Hwanghae Province in September 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects an apple farm in South Hwanghae Province in September 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects dental wares at a newly built factory in June 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un visits Farm No 1116 in September 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un visits a motor factory in November 2017 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un rides a horse during snowfall in Mount Paektu in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on 16 October 2019 AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un: Power in pictures Kim Jong-un inspects the Command of the Strategic Force of the Korean People's Army at an undisclosed location in August 2017 AFP/Getty

Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, told The Independent: “North Korean media have recently touted the country’s ‘peaceful outer space program,’ which may portend a long-range missile test disguised as a satellite launch.

“The audacity of the Kim regime is such that it continues to test missiles in the midst of a public health crisis that is worsening the humanitarian situation inside North Korea and engrossing governments around the world.”

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the suspected cruise missiles were fired by troops based in the coastal city of Munchon on Tuesday morning.

The weapons flew more than 150 kilometers (93 miles) off the North’s east coast in what is beleived to be the North’s first cruise missile launch since June 2017,

Several Sukhoi-class fighter jets were then launched to fire air-to-surface missiles in the eastern sea. Other North Korean fighter jets also flew on patrol near the border with China, according to officials.

Most of the weapons tested by North Korea in recent years have been ballistic missiles or long-range artillery shells.