North Korea fires ballistic missiles off eastern coast, Seoul says

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that several ballistic missiles were launched from North Korea's eastern coastal area near Wonsan early Saturday, with the projectiles traveling approximately 250 kilometres. The detection came at about 5:20am local time (20:20 GMT on Friday), prompting Seoul to raise its surveillance posture.

Seoul said it has been closely exchanging information about the launches with the United States and Japan. South Korea's presidential National Security Office convened an emergency meeting that included the Defence Ministry, the JCS and other relevant agencies to assess the situation.

The US Indo-Pacific Command said the launch does not pose an immediate threat to US territory or its allies, and reiterated Washington's commitment to the defence of South Korea and other partners in the region.

The missile firings occurred a day after South Korea wrapped up five days of joint maritime drills with the US and Japan that were aimed at North Korea. Pyongyang has frequently denounced allied exercises as rehearsals for invasion and has timed missile launches around such drills; its defence minister, Kim Song Gi, had earlier criticised the recent exercises and warned of “strong and reflective countermeasures.” Previous launches included a barrage into the sea on August 20, which took place despite an overture from US President Donald Trump, who said he planned to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Late last month North Korea also condemned planned Freedom Edge exercises in international waters off South Korea as a “threat.”