North Korea has fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

The launches occurred at approximately 7:30 AM local time on Tuesday (22:30 GMT), the JCS said.

Initially, the JCS reported the detection of a single missile launch but later confirmed that several missiles were launched from the Sariwon area, located south of Pyongyang. The missiles flew approximately 400 kilometers (248 miles) before landing in the sea.

Japan’s government has verified the missile launches, with its coastguard reporting that at least one projectile splashed down in an area outside the country’s maritime exclusive economic zone.

In response to the missile activity, South Korea is maintaining a heightened state of readiness and is closely coordinating with U.S. and Japanese authorities to monitor North Korean ballistic missile data.

South Korea’s Minister of National Defence, Kim Yong-hyun, expressed concerns that North Korea may escalate its military provocations in the lead-up to the upcoming U.S. presidential election, suggesting that Pyongyang aims to draw attention and assert its presence through displays of military strength. (ILKHA)