North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles off east coast

North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday, South Korea’s military said, amid tensions over border landmine explosions that injured three South Korean soldiers last month. Seoul said the missiles were launched from Pyongyang and increased surveillance, while Japan confirmed at least one suspected ballistic missile. Issued on: 12/10/2026 – 03:54 Modified: 12/10/2026 – 07:38 2 min Reading time Share By: North Korea fired at least one ballistic missile, Seoul's military said days after it demanded an apology from the North for an explosion in the DMZ that wounded three South Korean soldiers.

© Philip Fong, AFP North Korea on Monday fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast, Seoul 's military said, after weeks of mounting friction over a landmine explosion along the countries' heavily fortified border. "Our military has stepped up surveillance and vigilance against possible additional launches," it added. Japan's defence ministry separately confirmed the launch of at least one suspected ballistic missile.

Tensions between the two Koreas have soared since three South Korean soldiers were injured last month when two landmines detonated in the Seoul-controlled area of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that divides the two countries. A joint Seoul-UN investigation concluded that North Korea had planted the landmines over a year ago, something Pyongyang has angrily denied. Kim Yo Jong, powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said the North's October 3 launch featured a missile "capable of changing its flight orbit at a low altitude and AI was introduced into it".

Seoul said days later that it had tested a domestically produced hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV), a weapon carried into the upper atmosphere by rocket boosters or ballistic missiles before gliding towards its targets. South Korea 's presidential office said the HGV offered "a new deterrence capability capable of striking key targets within the Korean Peninsula's operational environment". Since the September 21 landmine incident, Seoul has demanded an apology, something Kim Yo Jong has blasted as "despicable, while rejecting a planned transfer of medical equipment from Seoul.

While maintaining a hard line toward Seoul, North Korea has been ramping up weapons testing as it seeks to expand its arsenal of nuclear-capable systems.

"If they (South Korea) truly wish to restore relations between the DPRK and South Korea, they should be mindful of the other side's feelings in every word and deed, and first demonstrate the utmost respect, consideration and sincerity," she said Thursday, using her country's official acronym. The DMZ is one of the world's most heavily fortified frontiers, and landmine incidents have previously heightened tensions between the two Koreas.

Seoul and Pyongyang remain technically at war since the Korean conflict ended in 1953 with a truce, not a peace treaty. ( with AFP) Advertising Keywords for this article Nuclear North Korea South Korea Japan landmines Kim Jong-un.