North Korea has fired multiple ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast, marking its first missile launch of 2026, according to officials in South Korea and Japan.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said several projectiles were detected at around 7:50 a.m. local time on Sunday. The missiles were launched from an area near Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, and flew about 900 kilometres before landing in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.
Japan’s Defence Ministry confirmed that at least two ballistic missiles were launched. It said the missiles followed irregular flight paths, reaching altitudes of around 50 kilometres, and travelled distances of approximately 900 km and 950 km. Both missiles landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, with no immediate damage reported to ships or aircraft.
The launches came just hours before South Korean President Lee Jae-myung departed for a state visit to China. The talks in Beijing are expected to focus on peace on the Korean Peninsula and North Korea’s nuclear programme.
South Korea described the launch as a provocative act. Its National Security Council held an emergency meeting and said the test violated United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi strongly condemned the missile tests, saying they threatened regional and international security.
Analysts say the timing of the launch may also reflect Pyongyang’s response to recent global developments, including US military actions in other regions.
On Saturday, North Korean state media released images of leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a munitions factory. During the visit, he called for doubling the production of tactical guided weapons ahead of an upcoming Workers’ Party congress.
The missile launch was North Korea’s first ballistic missile activity since November 2025. South Korea, Japan, and the United States said they are closely monitoring the situation and remain on high alert.
Further assessments are expected as allied intelligence agencies continue to analyse the launch.
