North Korea launches multiple ballistic missiles into sea off east coast

SEOUL, South Korea: North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea on Sunday, South Korea's military said, the North's latest weapons testing activity this year.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launches happened on Sunday morning from the North's eastern Sinpo area.

It said South Korea has bolstered its surveillance posture and is closely exchanging information with the U.S. and Japan.


Japan's Defense Ministry also said North Korea has fired a suspected ballistic missile.

Last week, Pyongyang said leader Kim Jong Un supervised missile tests from the country's destroyer. After the test, Kim said his government remained focused on the "limitless expansion" of its nuclear forces and issued unspecified new tasks to sharpen the country's nuclear attack and rapid-response capabilities.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said last week that his agency has confirmed "a rapid increase" in activities at nuclear facilities in North Korea.