By Blessing Nweke
North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea on Sunday, regional officials said, underscoring tensions hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departs for China for talks expected to address Pyongyang’s nuclear program.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected several launches from the capital region around 7:50 a.m. The missiles flew about 560 miles, the military said, adding that South Korean and U.S. authorities were analyzing the details. Seoul said it remains ready to repel provocations and is closely sharing information with the United States and Japan.
Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said at least two launches were confirmed. “They are a serious problem, threatening the peace and security of our nation, the region and the world,” Koizumi told reporters.
The tests marked the latest weapons demonstration by North Korea ahead of an upcoming ruling Workers’ Party congress, its first in five years. Analysts say Pyongyang often uses such events to showcase defense advances and to signal policy direction toward Washington, which has urged a return to stalled talks.
North Korea has expanded testing since leader Kim Jong Un’s diplomacy with then-President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. Kim has also sought leverage by tightening ties with China and aligning with Russia over its war in Ukraine, raising expectations he may press for concessions if talks resume.
The launches came hours before Lee leaves for a four-day visit to China, where his office said he will ask Beijing to play a “constructive role” in promoting peace on the peninsula. The U.S. and South Korea have long urged China to use its influence, though Beijing and Moscow have blocked tougher sanctions.
Seoul later convened an emergency security meeting, urging Pyongyang to halt missile tests that violate U.N. resolutions.
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