North Korea launched four Scud missilesinto the sea off its eastern coast Thursday, the South Korean Defense Ministrysaid.

韩国国防部称，朝鲜周四在东部海岸发射的四枚飞毛腿导弹掉入了海里

The missiles were fired in the direction ofRussiaand fell into the sea, according to the Pentagon, which described the launch asa very low-level matter.

美国国防部称，导弹是朝俄罗斯的方向发射的，随后掉入了海中，美国还称这次发射的水平非常低

The missiles were fired just days after thestart of annual joint military exercises between South Korea and the United Statesthat North Koreaopposes. The joint military exercises routinely spark tension between North Korea, South Korea and the United States.

这次发射正好是发生在韩美每年联合军演开始之后几天。两国每年常规的军演总会引发韩国，美国和朝鲜的紧张局势

For example, last year's exercisestriggered weeks of heightened tensions between the nations and North Koreanthreats of nuclear war.

比如，去年的军演引发了数周的紧张局势，当时朝鲜威胁核战争

The South Korean and U.S. militaries have not beenspecific about where they are conducting their drills.

韩国和美国军队没有提供进行军演的地点细节

The South Korean Defense Ministry said thatthe North had fired the Scuds in a northeasterly direction and that theyprobably fell into North Korean waters of the East Sea, which is also known asthe Sea of Japan.

韩国国防部称朝鲜是朝东北方向发射飞毛腿的，可能是掉入了东海的朝鲜海域，这也被称为日本海

It was the first time North Korea had firedScud missiles, which have a range that covers the whole of the KoreanPeninsula, since 2009, South Korea said.

韩国称，这是朝鲜自2009年以来首次发射飞毛腿导弹，这种导弹可以覆盖整个朝鲜半岛

"We consider it to be threatening anda military provocation," said South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman KimMing- seok, although he acknowledged the firings may have been a test launch orpart of military drills.

韩国国防部发言人KimMing- seok说，“我们认为这是有威胁的军事挑衅”，虽然Kim Ming- seok也承认这次发射可能是一次测试或者是军演的一部分