North Korea launches multiple ballistic missiles toward sea

North Korea missile launch

North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Monday. The JCS noted that one of the missiles flew more than 900km (559 miles) from the Pyongyang area. The joint chiefs did not specify how many missiles were detected.

Japan’s coastguard reported that North Korea had fired two unidentified projectiles, believed to be ballistic missiles, which appeared to have already fallen. South Korea’s presidential office said Pyongyang’s repeated missile launches violate United Nations Security Council resolutions, urging an immediate stop.

The launch follows South Korea’s hypersonic missile test on Thursday, overseen by President Lee Jae Myung. JCS spokesperson Jang Do-young said the latest missile launch appears to be a show of force since South Korea’s hypersonic missile test-fire. The incident comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with both countries conducting weapons tests.