SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles off its eastern coast today, South Korea said, a violation of U.N. resolutions and an apparent message of defiance to the United States on its Independence Day.

The launches came two days after North Korea fired four short-range cruise missiles. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said three missiles were fired early today, followed by four in the afternoon.

The Defense Ministry said the missiles were ballistic and are believed to have flown more than 250 miles.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted military officials as saying the missiles appeared to be a type of Scud missile. North Korea's Scuds are considered short-range.

A senior presidential official told The Associated Press the missiles are believed to have a range of less than 300 miles. The official warned that North Korea could fire more missiles in coming days, but said there was little possibility it could fire the intercontinental ballistic missile it threatened in April.

He spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to speak to media.

"Our military is fully ready to counter any North Korean threats and provocations based on strong South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

North Korea's state news agency carried no reports on the launches. But the North had warned ships to stay away from its east coast through July 10 for military exercises — an indication it was planning launches.

The chief of U.S. Naval operations, Adm. Gary Roughead, said today the American military was ready for any North Korean missile tests.

"Our ships and forces here are prepared for the tracking of the missiles and observing the activities that are going on," Roughead said after meeting Japanese military officials in Tokyo.