As its neighbors prepared for high-level diplomacy on Sunday, they said North Korea launched ballistic missiles toward the sea. South Korea's military said several missiles were fired from the Pyongyang area toward waters off North Korea's east coast at about 7:50am local time, Reuters reports. The test came hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung headed to China for a state visit, where his government has said stability on the Korean Peninsula will be on the agenda. South Korea convened an emergency national security council meeting later in the day to discuss the launches.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said that at least two missile launches have been confirmed. "They are a serious problem, threatening the peace and security of our nation, the region and the world," Koizumi told reporters, per the AP. Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had increased monitoring and readiness in case of additional launches and was closely coordinating with US and Japanese forces. The US military said in a statement on social media that the missile launches did not "pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory, or to our allies." The launches were the latest weapons demonstration by North Korea in recent weeks.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is hosting Lee during his four-day visit. Lee's security adviser, Wi Sung-lac, said Seoul hopes Beijing will help encourage peace efforts with Pyongyang, though he gave no specifics. Analysts said Lee plans to ask China to support renewed talks with North Korea, which has recently rejected his overtures.
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
