North Korea Launches Short-Range Missiles into East Sea

North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Tuesday afternoon, South Korea's military announced, in an apparent weapons test that heightened regional tensions amid ongoing diplomatic discussions. The launches occurred around 3:50 p.m. local time from areas near the North's capital, Pyongyang, with the projectiles traveling approximately 350 kilometers before splashing down off the country's east coast.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff detected several unidentified ballistic missiles heading toward the East Sea and later assessed them as short-range types. The military is coordinating with the United States to analyze further details, including the specific missile models. Japan's defense ministry confirmed the launches, reporting two projectiles that reached altitudes of up to 50 miles and distances of about 217 miles, landing outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that the missiles posed no direct impact on the country.

The launches mark North Korea's first such activity in 23 days and the second since early January, when several missiles flew more than 900 kilometers in a move linked to...