North Korea Launches Suspected Ballistic Missiles Toward the Sea

South Korea has condemned the launch and called on Pyongyang to ‘immediately cease’ such actions.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in North Korea, on Jan. 2, 2026. KCNA via Reuters

North Korea launched suspected ballistic missiles toward the sea on Jan. 27 in apparent weapons tests, according to Japan and South Korea.

The Japanese prime minister’s office and Defense Ministry both said on X that Pyongyang had fired possible ballistic missiles, while the South Korean Defense Ministry said it detected the launch of at least one unidentified projectile off the East coast of North Korea.