SEOUL, October 12 (RIA Novosti) - North Korea has launched five short-range missiles into the East Sea, South Korea's news agency Yonhap reported on Monday, citing a government source.

The missiles were fired from a testing range in Cape Musudan on the country's eastern coast, the agency said.

North Korea earlier declared a navigation ban in waters off its east and west coasts from October 10 to October 20, the agency said.

In early July, the North Korean military carried out several launches of short-range missiles from its east coast. The South Korean Defense Ministry said the missiles were Scud-type and had flown up to 500 kilometers (300 miles) before falling into the Sea of Japan.

North Korea is banned from conducting nuclear or ballistic tests under UN Resolution 1718, adopted after North Korea's first nuclear test on October 9, 2006.

However, Pyongyang carried out a second nuclear test on May 25 this year followed by a series of short-range missile launches, and has threatened to build up its nuclear arsenal to counter what it calls hostile U.S. policies.

The move led to the UN imposing new sanctions on North Korea banning the import and export of nuclear material and all weapons except small arms.

North Korea is reported to have about 600 Scud missiles, including Hwasong-5 with a range of 300 km (190 miles) and Hwasong-6 (500 km) missiles.