North Korea's Missile Launch Sparks International Tensions Ahead of APEC Summit

North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles, escalating tensions ahead of a key Asia-Pacific leaders' summit in South Korea. This act defies international bans and draws attention towards regional security, with South Korea, the U.S., Japan, and China sharing intelligence and monitoring developments closely.

In a bold move defying international regulations, North Korea has launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles, South Korea's military reported on Wednesday. The incident comes just days ahead of the Asia-Pacific leaders' meeting in South Korea, raising security concerns among neighboring countries and allies.

This marks Pyongyang's first missile launch since May, intensifying scrutiny over North Korea's weapons development. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump are scheduled to attend the upcoming APEC forum in South Korea. Additionally, a meeting is expected with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the projectiles were fired from near Pyongyang in a northeasterly direction. South Korea, along with the U.S. and Japan, is actively sharing information to assess the situation. Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi assured that the launch poses no immediate threat to Japan's security.

(With inputs from agencies.)