SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea on Sunday, according to neighboring countries, marking the latest in a series of weapons tests this year.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported the launches occurred Sunday morning from the North’s eastern Sinpo area. Seoul said it has strengthened surveillance and is closely sharing information with the United States and Japan.
South Korea’s presidential office said the National Security Council will hold an emergency meeting to discuss the launches.
Japan’s Defense Ministry also detected the launches and said the missiles were believed to have landed in waters off North Korea’s east coast. Tokyo lodged a strong protest with Pyongyang, saying the launches threaten regional and international peace and violate U.N. Security Council resolutions banning North Korea’s ballistic activities.
Last week, North Korea said leader Kim Jong Un supervised missile tests from a North Korean destroyer and vowed the government would continue the “limitless expansion” of its nuclear forces, issuing unspecified new tasks to enhance the country’s nuclear strike and rapid-response capabilities.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said last week his agency has confirmed “a rapid increase” in activity at North Korean nuclear facilities.