North Korea launches suspected ballistic missiles into sea

South Korea, Japan and US confirm Thursday morning launch with Japanese saying at least two banned ballistic missiles were fired.

North Korea has fired at least two projectiles – suspected of being banned ballistic missiles – into the sea off its eastern coast in a launch confirmed by the South’s military, Japan and the United States. North Korea is banned from developing ballistic missiles under United Nations Security Council Resolutions and if the launch which happened early on Thursday is confirmed it would represent a new challenge to US President Joe Biden’s efforts to engage with Pyongyang. Seoul’s joint chiefs of staff (JCS) said in a statement that the “unidentified projectile” was launched into the Sea of Japan, known as the East Sea in Korea.