North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea off its eastern coast on Monday, according to South Korea’s military. The launch marked the country’s fourth reported missile test in one month. One missile travelled more than 900 kilometres, according to the report.
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The launches followed South Korea’s hypersonic missile test on October 8. A spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea’s latest tests appeared to demonstrate its military strength. The launches also seemed intended to showcase Pyongyang’s missile capabilities in response to Seoul’s recent test.
Japan strongly condemned North Korea’s missile launches. Its defence minister said Tokyo had lodged a strong protest against Pyongyang through Japan’s embassy in Beijing. Japanese officials also criticised the launches amid continuing regional security concerns.
South Korea’s National Security Office also condemned the tests, describing them as violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions. It called on North Korea to stop such activities immediately. The launches have renewed concerns about military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
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According to the report, North Korea has conducted more than 10 missile tests so far this year, including four during the past month. The latest launches come amid continued weapons development and competing military demonstrations by the two Koreas. Regional governments are monitoring the developments as tensions persist over missile capabilities and security in East Asia.