N.Korea fires ballistic missiles as Trump readies for Asia trip

North Korea fired what appeared to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday, South Korea's military said, a week before a key Asia-Pacific leaders’ meeting in South Korea.

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It was the first launch of ballistic missiles since May by Pyongyang, which has defied a United Nations Security Council ban on the weapons.

It was also the first such launch since Lee Jae Myung was elected president in South Korea, with a platform of engagement with North Korea.

Lee and US President Donald Trump are expected to meet in South Korea next week at a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Trump is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.

South Korea detected several projectiles believed to be short-range ballistic missiles fired from an area near North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, in a northeasterly direction early on Wednesday, its Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

In a separate statement, the Pentagon said the launches did not pose an immediate threat to US personnel.

"The United States condemns these actions and calls on the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts," the Pentagon said.