North Korea on Sunday launched multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast into the sea, marking its first missile barrage of the year, as South Korea’s president began a state visit to China.
South Korea’s military said the missiles were fired at about 7:50 a.m. local time (2250 GMT Saturday) and flew approximately 900 kilometers (560 miles). It added that South Korea and the United States were closely analyzing the launches while maintaining full readiness.
In a statement, US Forces Korea said the launches did not pose an “immediate threat to US personnel or territory, or to our allies,” but condemned the tests as destabilising.
Japan’s Defence Ministry said at least two missiles traveled distances of about 900 kilometers (560 miles) and 950 kilometers (590 miles). Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs “threaten the peace and stability of our country and the international community, and are absolutely intolerable.”
The latest tests came after North Korea last launched ballistic missiles on November 7.
North Korean state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday called for doubling the production capacity of tactical guided weapons while visiting a munitions factory. In recent weeks, Kim has toured a series of weapons manufacturing facilities and inspected a nuclear-powered submarine, overseeing missile-related activities ahead of the ninth congress of the ruling Workers’ Party later this year, where key policy goals are expected to be outlined.
Diplomatically, the Korean Peninsula remains a focal point of regional tensions involving major powers. South Korea is a close ally of the United States, which maintains troops on its soil and coordinates closely with Seoul on security matters. North Korea, which is hostile to both the US and South Korea, relies heavily on China for economic and political support, even as Beijing officially backs denuclearisation and regional stability. China, meanwhile, seeks to balance its support for North Korea with growing economic ties to South Korea, while limiting US influence in the region — making developments on the peninsula closely tied to broader US–China strategic competition.