Renewed Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

FILE - A rocket is fired during a drill of a self-propelled flak rocket destroying "enemy" cruise missiles conducted by the air defense artillery units of the Korean People's Army in an undisclosed location in North Korea.

North Korea is threatening retaliation against South Korea, after accusing the South of conducting live fire military exercises near a disputed maritime border in the Yellow Sea.

The warning was carried by North Korea's official news agency. It came after the Defense Ministry in Seoul said the North test-fired three short-range missiles Thursday that traveled 190 kilometers into the Sea of Japan.

North Korea missiles ranges

Earlier this year, North Korea fired multiple rockets, including medium range missiles, during large scale U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises.

The new missile launches follow widespread speculation that Pyongyang may be preparing to conduct its fourth underground nuclear weapon test in violation of U.N. resolutions.

North and South Korea have been bitterly divided since fighting in the Korean War was ended by a 1953 armistice.