North Korea launches missiles toward eastern waters

North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward waters off its east coast on October 12, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said, with one type flying more than 900 kilometers before falling into the sea. The launch was detected from the Pyongyang area at about 9:20 a.m. local time, according to the South Korean military. Japan’s Defense Ministry said it detected at least two missiles and assessed that they landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. South Korea’s military did not specify the total number detected. It said the missiles appeared to be of different types and that it was analyzing their specifications with the United States. South Korean and Japanese authorities shared information about the launch. South Korea’s National Security Office convened an emergency meeting and called on North Korea to stop its repeated ballistic missile launches, which Seoul said violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. South Korea’s military said it had strengthened surveillance and vigilance against the possibility of further launches.