Seoul/Tokyo: North Korea launched a series of suspected ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Saturday, raising fresh security concerns in the region amid ongoing military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Japan’s defence authorities reported that a possible ballistic missile had been fired from North Korea, adding that the projectile was believed to have already fallen into the sea. Following the launch, the office of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed relevant agencies to closely monitor the situation and ensure the safety of aircraft, ships and other assets operating in the area.
South Korea’s military later confirmed that multiple projectiles were detected. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (South Korea), around ten unidentified ballistic missiles were launched from the Sunan area near Pyongyang at approximately 1:20 pm local time, heading toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.
#NorthKorea fires an unidentified projectile towards the sea off its east coast, South Korea’s news agency said, citing its military.
The Japanese government said North Korea had fired what could be a ballistic missile, which the coast guard said appeared to have fallen into the… pic.twitter.com/QzE3K1hZWE
— DD News (@DDNewslive) March 14, 2026
Earlier in the day, South Korea’s defence ministry had announced that North Korea fired at least one unidentified projectile eastward. The launch occurred weeks after Pyongyang dismissed Seoul’s recent diplomatic overtures for peace, calling them deceptive.
The missiles were fired while joint military drills between United States and South Korea were underway. The exercises, which began earlier this week, are described by the allies as defensive in nature and designed to strengthen readiness against potential threats from North Korea.
According to Japanese media reports citing defence officials, the projectiles appear to have landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
North Korea, which possesses nuclear weapons capabilities, has frequently condemned joint military exercises between Washington and Seoul, describing them as rehearsals for a possible invasion. The latest launch underscores the continuing cycle of military demonstrations and heightened tensions in the region.
