North Korea fires missiles into sea
By Nathan Morley
North Korea fired several suspected short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Tuesday.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched from the Pyongyang area toward waters off the North’s east coast and flew about 350 kilometers.
Japan’s coast guard said it also detected what appeared to be ballistic missiles that fell a few minutes after launch.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said they would have no impact on Japan.
In recent months, North Korea has test-fired short-range missiles and multiple-launch rockets it says are being developed as part of a tactical nuclear arsenal to counter the United States and South Korea.
Interest in those weapons has grown since Pyongyang supplied short-range missiles and artillery to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine under a 2024 mutual defense pact.
Tuesday’s launch coincided with a visit to South Korea by a senior U.S. Defense Department official, who discussed modernising the alliance as Washington seeks a more limited role in combined defence efforts against the North.
It was North Korea’s second launch since Jan. 4, when it fired ballistic missiles in the same direction as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was preparing to travel to Beijing for summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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