North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles from around the east coast city of Hamhung into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) on Wednesday morning, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

The launches took place around 10:15 a.m. KST and came as the U.S. and South Korea conducted live-fire tank drills earlier the same day as part of the large-scale Freedom Shield military exercises, which were originally scheduled to run from March 13 through 23. The allies also conducted naval drills on Tuesday.