North Korea has carried out another missile launch, increasing regional tensions in East Asia.
North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea off its eastern coast early Sunday, according to officials in South Korea and Japan.
South Korea’s military said the missiles were launched at about 6:10 a.m. local time from the Sinpo area on North Korea’s east coast. Authorities said they immediately strengthened surveillance and were closely sharing intelligence with the United States and Japan.
Japan’s government also confirmed the launches, saying the missiles were believed to have landed near the east coast of the Korean Peninsula. Officials added there was no confirmed entry into Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
The latest test marks North Korea’s seventh ballistic missile launch of 2026 and its fourth missile activity this month alone.
South Korea’s presidential office reportedly held an emergency national security meeting after the launches.
Ballistic missile tests by North Korea violate multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions aimed at restricting Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear weapons programmes. However, North Korea has repeatedly rejected the restrictions, saying they violate its right to self-defence.
The launches come ahead of an expected summit in mid-May between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, where North Korea is expected to be a key topic.
Last week, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi warned that North Korea had made serious progress in expanding its nuclear capabilities.
The latest missile launch signals that Pyongyang remains committed to military escalation despite growing international pressure.
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