North Korea Fires Multiple Ballistic Missiles into East Sea in Surprise Test

Breaking News: North Korea Fires Multiple Ballistic Missiles Towards East Sea North Korea has fired multiple, short-range ballistic missiles towards waters off its eastern coast, South Korea's military confirmed on Wednesday morning. The launch marks the country's first missile test in months. According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles were detected at 9:03 am local time and flew approximately 200 kilometers before landing in the East Sea. The exact number of missiles launched is not yet clear. The launch comes just a week ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, where world leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump are set to attend. South Korean officials have issued a statement urging calm and saying that they will continue to monitor the situation closely. The United States has also been notified of the launch. The timing of the missile test is significant, as it coincides with heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. In recent months, North Korea has conducted several military exercises, sparking concerns about the country's nuclear ambitions. The international community will be watching the situation closely in the coming days, particularly ahead of the APEC summit. The launch may also have implications for the ongoing denuclearization talks between North and South Korea. As the situation develops, we will provide further updates and analysis. *This story is developing. Information compiled from Aljazeera reporting.*