North Korea's Missile Escalation Ahead of APEC Summit

North Korea has launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the sea ahead of a major Asia-Pacific leaders' meeting in South Korea. These actions come despite an international ban on weapons development. South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. are closely monitoring the situation and sharing real-time information.

North Korea fired a series of short-range ballistic missiles towards its eastern waters, reported the South Korean military, just days before a crucial Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea.

This marks Pyongyang's first missile launch since May, defying global prohibitions upheld by the U.S. and South Korea. Both nations' leaders, President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, are scheduled to meet at the APEC forum, where Trump will also have talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The detected missiles were launched near Pyongyang, heading northeast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed. Meanwhile, Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi assured that Japan's security remains unaffected but emphasized ongoing information sharing with the U.S.

(With inputs from agencies.)