North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles off east coast

Summarised from 6 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 05:07 · Archive

North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles from Pyongyang on Monday, with one flying over 900 kilometres, amid escalating tensions over border landmine explosions.

North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday, according to South Korea's military. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said various types of missiles were launched from the Pyongyang area around 09:20 local time. One of the missiles flew more than 900 kilometres before falling into the sea. Japan's defence ministry confirmed it detected at least two suspected ballistic missiles, which landed in waters outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. No damage was reported in Japan.

The launch came days after South Korea on Friday test-fired its first domestically developed hypersonic weapon, designed to fly at least five times the speed of sound. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung oversaw the test, describing it as important for strengthening the South's conventional defence capabilities. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff characterised Monday's North Korean launch as 'a show of force in response to the successful test launch of our hypersonic missile'.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated following a landmine explosion in the Demilitarised Zone last month that injured three South Korean soldiers. A joint Seoul-UN investigation concluded that North Korea had planted two landmines in the Seoul-controlled area of the DMZ over a year ago. Pyongyang has angrily denied this claim and accused South Korea of provocation.

North Korea's weapons testing programme has accelerated significantly. The country conducted four missile launches in October alone. On 3 October, North Korea tested what it described as a hypersonic intermediate-range missile designed to evade missile defences in South Korea and Japan. North Korea's sister of leader Kim Jong Un said that missile 'was capable of changing its flight orbit at a low altitude and AI was introduced into it'.

The launches represent part of a broader pattern of weapons demonstrations as North Korea seeks to expand its arsenal of nuclear-capable systems. Leader Kim Jong Un continues to develop the nuclear weapons programme whilst rejecting offers from the United States and South Korea to resume long-stalled diplomacy. South Korea's presidential office said the repeated missile launches violate United Nations Security Council resolutions and urged an immediate stop.

North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles off east coast — Image: New York Post

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How it is being reported

North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles, adding to streak of weapons testsNorth Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward eastern waters, with one flying over 900 km, South Korea's military said.New York Post · 12 Oct, 05:00
North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles towards the seaLatest missile launch appears to be a show of force since South Korea's hypersonic missile test-fire, Seoul says.Al Jazeera · 12 Oct, 04:37
North Korea fires missiles after Seoul's hypersonic testNorth Korea has conducted its fourth missile launch in October. South Korea's military called this launch a "show of force" in response to South Korea's successful test launch of a hypersonic missile.DW News · 12 Oct, 04:24
North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles in continued weapons testsSouth Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were fired from an area around the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.CBS News · 12 Oct, 03:37
North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles into Sea of JapanAt least two of the weapons were believed to have fallen into waters outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.The Japan Times · 12 Oct, 02:56
North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles off east coast, Seoul saysNorth Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday, South Korea’s military said, amid tensions over border landmine explosions that injured three South Korean soldiers last month. Seoul said the missiles were launched from Pyongyang and increased surveillance, while Japan confirmed at least one suspected ballistic missile.France 24 · 12 Oct, 02:54

In this story: North Korea · South Korea · Pyongyang · Kim Jong Un · Lee Jae Myung · Kim Yo Jong · Japan · Demilitarised Zone

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem