The U.S. Defense Department confirmed Monday that North Korea launched two Scud-class short range ballistic missiles from its southeast coast a day earlier.

"Both missiles flew in a northeasterly direction and landed in the sea," a department official said. In Seoul, South Korea's defense ministry said the missiles flew more than 500 kilometers.

The launch was in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions 1718, 1874 and 2084, added the official.

North Korea is prohibited from engaging in any launch using ballistic missile technology under the resolutions adopted for its past nuclear tests or long-range rocket launches.

It was the communist nation's second Scud missile launch in less than a week, which came despite its recent peace offensive.

Many view it as aimed at countering an annual South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise under way on and off the peninsula.

The Pentagon official reiterated a call for Pyongyang to exercise restraint.

"We urge North Korea to refrain from provocative actions that aggravate tensions and instead focus on fulfilling its international obligations and commitments," said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The Pentagon did not hold a press briefing on Monday as federal offices were closed due to heavy snow. (Yonhap)