SEOUL (AP) - Air raid sirens sounded on a Republic of Korea (ROK)n island and residents there evacuated to underground shelters after the North fired about a dozen missiles in its direction Wednesday, at least one of them landing near the rivals' tense sea border. Republic of Korea (ROK) quickly responded by performing its own missile tests.


The launches came hours after North Korea threatened to use nuclear weapons to get the U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) to "pay the most horrible price in history" as it has intensified its fiery rhetoric targeting the ongoing Republic of Korea (ROK)n-U.S. military drills that it views as an invasion rehearsal.


Republic of Korea (ROK)'s military said North Korea launched more than 10 missiles of various kinds off its eastern and western coasts.


One of the missiles was flying toward Republic of Korea (ROK)'s Ulleung island before it eventually landed at a site 167 kilometers (104 miles) northwest of the island. Republic of Korea (ROK)'s military subsequently issued an air raid alert on the island, according to the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff. Republic of Korea (ROK)n media published photos showing island residents moving to underground shelters.


That missile's landing site is also 26 kilometers (16 miles) away from the rivals' sea border. It's in international waters, but still far south of the extension of the nations' border. Republic of Korea (ROK)'s military said it was the first time a North Korean missile had landed so close to the sea border since the countries' division in 1948.


"This is very unprecedented and we will never tolerate it," Republic of Korea (ROK)'s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a separate statement.


In 2010, North Korea launched artillery shells on a frontline Republic of Korea (ROK)n island and allegedly torpedoed a Republic of Korea (ROK)n navy ship, both off the peninsula's western coast, killing a total of 50 people.


Later Wednesday, Republic of Korea (ROK) said it conducted air-to-surface missile tests to show its determination to get touch on North Korean provocations. Republic of Korea (ROK)'s military said its fighter jets fired three precision-guided missiles to sites near the rivals' eastern sea border.


"North Korea firing missiles in a way that sets off air raid sirens appears intended to threaten Republic of Korea (ROK)ns to pressure their government to change policy," Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said. "North Korea's expanding military capabilities and tests are worrisome, but offering concessions about alliance cooperation or nuclear recognition would make matters worse."


Republic of Korea (ROK)'s Joint Chiefs of Staff earlier identified three of the North Korean weapons launched "short-range ballistic missiles" fired from the North's eastern coastal town of Wonsan, including the one that fell near the sea border.


North Korean short-range weapons are designed to strike key facilities in Republic of Korea (ROK), including U.S. military bases there.


In an emergency meeting with top security officials, Republic of Korea (ROK)n President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered officials to take swift unspecified steps get North Korea to face consequences for its provocation. He said he would consider the North Korean missile's landing near the border "a virtual violation of (our) territorial waters."


The North's barrage of missile tests came as Republic of Korea (ROK) is on an official mourning period in the wake of the Halloween party crush that killed more than 150 people in Seoul in the country's largest disaster in years.


During the emergency Republic of Korea (ROK)n meeting, "participants lamented the provocations committed during our national mourning period and pointed out that this clearly showed the nature of the North Korean government," according to Republic of Korea (ROK)'s Presidential office.


Earlier Wednesday, Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters that at least two ballistic missiles fired by North Korea showed possible on "irregular" trajectory. This suggests the missiles are the North's highly maneuverable, nuclear-capable KN-23 missile, which was modeled on Russia's Iskander missile.


Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called North Korea's continuing missile tests "absolutely impermissible."


Animosities on the Korean Peninsula have been running high in recent months, with North Korea testing a string of nuclear-capable missiles and adopting a law authorizing the preemptive use of its nuclear weapons in a broad range of situations. Some experts still doubt North Korea could use nuclear weapons first in the face of U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK)n forces.


North Korea has argued its recent weapons tests were meant to issue a warning to Washington and Seoul over their series of joint military drills that it views as an invasion rehearsal, including this week's exercises involving about 240 warplanes.


In a statement released early Wednesday, Pak Jong Chon, a secretary of the ruling Workers' Party who is considered a close confidant of leader Kim Jong Un, called the so-called Vigilant Storm air force drills "aggressive and provocative."


Pak also accused the Pentagon of formulating a North Korean regime collapse as a major policy objective in an apparent reference to the Pentagon's recently released National Defense Strategy report. The report stated any nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners "will result in the end of that regime."


He slammed Republic of Korea (ROK)n military leaders over what he called "rubbish" comments that threatened to destroy North Korea if it uses nuclear weapons.


Republic of Korea (ROK)'s military has warned North Korea that using its nuclear weapons would put it on a "path of self-destruction."


"If the U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) attempt to use armed forces against (North Korea) without any fear, the special means of the (North's) armed forces will carry out their strategic mission without delay," Pak said, in an apparent reference to his country's nuclear weapons.


"The U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) will have to face a terrible case and pay the most horrible price in history," he said.


U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK)n officials have steadfastly said their drills are defensive in nature and that they have no intentions of attacking North Korea.


The White House on Tuesday pushed back against North Korea's saber rattling, reiterating that drills are part of a routine training schedule with Republic of Korea (ROK).


"We reject the notion that they serve as any sort of provocation. We have made clear that we have no hostile intent towards (North Korea) and call on them to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy," White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.


North Korea "continues to not respond. At the same time, we will continue to work closely with our allies and partners to limit the North's ability to advance its unlawful weapons programs and threaten regional stability," Watson said.

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