North Korea fired several ballistic missiles into the sea on Sunday in the latest round of weapons tests this year, according to a statement from South Korea.South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were fired in the morning from the Sinpo area on the east coast, adding that Seoul had increased monitoring and was coordinating closely with the United States and Japan.South Korea’s presidential office said that the National Security Council will hold an emergency meeting to assess the situation.Japan’s Defense Ministry also detected the launches, saying the missiles likely landed off North Korea’s east coast. It lodged a protest with Pyongyang, saying the launches “threaten regional and international peace” and violate UN Security Council resolutions banning ballistic activities.Meanwhile, the US Indo-Pacific Command also issued a statement stressing that it does not pose a direct threat to the United States or its allies. “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles on April 19, 2026. We are aware of the missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners. Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies.
She added that the United States remains committed to defending the American homeland and our allies in the region.
Last week, North Korean state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un supervised missile tests from a destroyer. Kim later said his country would continue the “unlimited expansion” of its nuclear forces and would set new missions to enhance nuclear strikes and rapid reaction capabilities.The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, said last week that the agency had seen a “rapid increase” in activity at nuclear sites in North Korea.
