(Bloomberg) —North Korea launched a series of short-range missiles early Thursday that appeared to be designed to attack ships, the latest provocation by Kim Jong Un’s isolated regime.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the rockets — probably cruise missiles — were fired from the eastern port of Wonsan and flew about 200 kilometers (124 miles). They don’t appear to be a type that could reach Japan, Defense Minister Tomomi Inada told parliament in Tokyo.

North Korea’s 10th test of missile technology this year comes after Kim told his air force to be ready to bomb U.S. aircraft carriers that are gathering in the western Pacific, according to China’s official Xinhua News Agency. On Tuesday, the U.S. Navy said its Nimitz carrier left San Diego to join the Carl Vinson and Ronald Reagan as part of a routine deployment.

The test comes a day after South Korean President Moon Jae-in suspended the installation of remaining components of a U.S. missile defense shield pending an environmental impact assessment. He previously called for a review of the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system that was approved by his predecessor despite protests from China.

Two launchers for the Thaad battery were deployed in April in Seongju county, more than 200 kilometers southeast of Seoul, with four more needed to make the system fully operational. Moon, who took office last month, ordered an investigation into how the final components arrived in South Korea without the defense ministry informing him.

Defied Sanctions

North Korea has accelerated its missile testing program in defiance of United Nations sanctions as Kim seeks to develop a device that can deliver a nuclear warhead to North America. Before Thursday’s launch, Kim had conducted 78 ballistic missile tests since he took power in 2012, of which 61 were considered to be successful, U.S. lawmaker Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services strategic forces panel, said Wednesday.

The U.S. last week tested a defense system that it said successfully intercepted and destroyed a mock intercontinental ballistic missile. The trial was the first intended to replicate the flight profile of an ICBM that could be deployed by North Korea.

Kim has conducted four missile tests since Moon was elected, complicating the new president’s ambitions to engage with Pyongyang. The launches demonstrated potential advancements in distance and accuracy.

On May 14, North Korea fired a rocket that analysts estimate had a range of 4,500 kilometers, putting it within reach of Guam. Last week it launched a Scud variant it said landed within seven meters of its target.