North Korea fires ballistic missiles toward sea off its east coast, Seoul says

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said North Korea fired ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast on Monday, 12 October 2026, according to France 24, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) and Reuters. France 24 quoted a JCS statement: "Our military detected around 09:20 (00:20 GMT) several ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea", also known as the Sea of Japan. The JCS said it had stepped up surveillance and vigilance against possible additional launches.

Japan's government separately detected the launch, according to France 24, SCMP and The Hindu. Their counts differ. France 24 reported that Japan's defence ministry confirmed at least one suspected ballistic missile. SCMP reported that Japan's Defence Ministry detected at least two suspected ballistic missile launches and assessed that the weapons landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. The Japan Times reported that at least two of the weapons were believed to have fallen outside that zone.

The launch follows a North Korean missile test on 3 October. France 24 quoted Kim Yo Jong as saying that missile was "capable of changing its flight orbit at a low altitude and AI was introduced into it". The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not independently verify this claim. In September, landmine explosions near the border injured three South Korean soldiers. A probe involving the US-led United Nations Command concluded North Korea planted the mines. North Korea denies this, according to France 24 and The Hindu.

What is not yet known: The exact number of missiles is unclear. The Hindu reported that South Korea's military said at least one projectile was fired and did not immediately say whether it was ballistic or how far it flew. The reports do not include flight distance, altitude, missile type, or any North Korean statement about Monday's launch.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.