SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea said North Korea fired seven suspected artillery shells into the ocean on Tuesday, in what Seoul called a provocation apparently directed against its ongoing military drills with the United States.

North Korea also has launched six Scud missiles into the sea since the annual exercises began about a week ago. It earlier fired artillery shells days before the drills started. It says the exercises are a rehearsal for invasion, but Washington and Seoul say they are defensive in nature.