Updated at 3:11 p.m. KST to include additional expert comments

North Korea launched eight short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) toward the East Sea, South Korea’s military announced Sunday morning, a move that one expert explained could be a “prelude” to North Korea’s next nuclear test.

It is the most projectiles launched in a single missile event by North Korea this year and follows its last projectile launch on May 25 that involved an intercontinental ballistic missile and two other shorter-range missiles.

The missiles were launched from near Sunan, Gaecheon, Dongchang-ri, and Hamheung areas, the military said. Their flight distances ranged from