North Korea fires suspected ballistic missiles into sea, S Korea, Japan say

"The launches on Tuesday were the second this month after a volley on January 4 as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung kicked off a state visit to China. Japan's Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Defence said Pyongyang fired what appeared to be two ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan. The country's Coast Guard, citing the Defence Ministry, said both were believed to have splashed down."

"South Korea's Ministry of National Defence also said it had detected the launch of at least one unidentified projectile that flew off North Korea's east coast. Tuesday's launch came a day after a high-level visit to Seoul by the Pentagon's number three official, Defence Undersecretary for Policy Elbridge Colby, and weeks after the earlier launches, which Pyongyang said involved hypersonic missiles that had successfully hit their targets 1,000km (621 miles) away."

"North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who observed the January 4 tests, said they underscored the need to bolster his country's nuclear deterrent, according to state media. Pyongyang recently threatened retaliation over what it called surveillance drone flights by Seoul across their border in January and September. Seoul has denied operating any drones on those occasions and launched an investigation into whether they had been sent by civilians."

North Korea launched suspected ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, appearing to conduct weapons tests ahead of a major political congress. Japan reported two projectiles believed to have splashed down, with initial reports indicating they landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. South Korea detected at least one unidentified projectile flying off North Korea's east coast. The launches followed earlier January hypersonic missile tests that Pyongyang said struck targets about 1,000km away. Pyongyang has also accused Seoul of surveillance drone flights and threatened retaliation, while Seoul denied operating those drones and opened an investigation.

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