North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday, South Korea’s military reported, marking the latest escalation amid heightened tensions following a recent landmine explosion along their heavily fortified border. The incident occurred in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), where three South Korean soldiers were injured in September.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed that several ballistic missiles were detected around 09:20 local time (0020 GMT) being launched from the Pyongyang area into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea. Some of the missiles reportedly flew over 900 kilometers (560 miles). The JCS said Seoul and the United States are analyzing the missiles’ exact capabilities. Japan’s defense ministry independently confirmed the launch of at least one suspected ballistic missile.
In response to the missile launches, South Korea’s National Security Office held an emergency meeting to assess military readiness and increased surveillance, maintaining vigilance for potential further missile activity.
The missile tests come amid escalating tensions linked to an investigation attributing a landmine explosion in the DMZ, which injured South Korean soldiers, to North Korea. Both Seoul and the United Nations conducted a joint inquiry concluding that Pyongyang was responsible, a claim the North Korean government vehemently denies. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, condemned South Korea’s demands for an apology as “despicable” and rejected an offer of medical supplies from Seoul.
Recent weeks have seen reciprocal weapons tests as both sides demonstrate enhanced missile capabilities. On October 3, North Korea test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile described by Kim Yo Jong as incorporating artificial intelligence technology capable of low-altitude flight path adjustments. Shortly afterward, South Korea announced the successful test of a domestically produced hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), which it described as a new deterrent able to strike key targets within the Korean Peninsula’s operational environment.
In a statement on Thursday, Kim Yo Jong emphasized that any efforts to restore inter-Korean relations must be met with “utmost respect, consideration and sincerity,” warning Seoul to be mindful of Pyongyang’s sensitivities.
These developments occur against the backdrop of ongoing diplomatic uncertainties. U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent gestures toward dialogue with Pyongyang have raised concerns in Seoul about being sidelined in potential negotiations over North Korea’s nuclear program. The region remains fragile, as the Korean War technically ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty in 1953, and the DMZ continues to be one of the world’s most heavily militarized borders. Past incidents involving landmines there have repeatedly intensified bilateral tensions.