North Korea fires ballistic missiles into Sea of Japan

North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles from its east coast on Monday, according to Seoul's military. The incident occurred after a landmine explosion along their heavily fortified border injured three South Korean soldiers. Both nations have been testing upgraded missile technology in response to the incident. North Korea confirmed test-firing a tactical ballistic missile to validate advancements in the research for technical upgrades.

Japan's defense ministry independently verified the launch of at least one suspected ballistic missile. However, the US Pacific Command stated that the missiles did not pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory or to their allies. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported detecting around 12 ballistic missiles launched from Pyongyang towards the East Sea, noting that some missiles traveled over 900km.

South Korea's National Security Office convened an emergency security meeting following the launch to assess the country's military readiness. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, criticized South Korea's demand for an apology over the landmine explosion as "despicable" and rejected an offer of medical equipment from Seoul.