North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea on Sunday from the Sinpo area, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. This marks the latest in a series of weapons tests by North Korea this year.
Key points
North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea
Launches occurred from the eastern Sinpo area
South Korea is enhancing its surveillance posture
Information is being shared with the U.S. and Japan
This is part of North Korea's ongoing weapons testing activity
Mentioned in this story
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FILE - In this photo provided by the North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un, center, visits to observe the test launches of missiles at an undisclosed place in North Korea Sunday, April 12, 2026. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency.
FILE - In this photo provided by the North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un, center, visits to observe the test launches of missiles at an undisclosed place in North Korea Sunday, April 12, 2026. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency.
AP/KCNA via KNS
AP/KCNA via KNS
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea on Sunday, its neighbors said, the North's latest weapons testing activity this year.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launches happened on Sunday morning from the North's eastern Sinpo area. It said South Korea has bolstered its surveillance posture and is closely exchanging information with the U.S. and Japan.
Q&A
What type of missiles did North Korea launch on Sunday?
North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea.
Where did the missile launches take place in North Korea?
The missile launches occurred in the eastern Sinpo area of North Korea.
How are South Korea and the U.S. responding to North Korea's missile tests?
South Korea has enhanced its surveillance posture and is closely exchanging information with the U.S. and Japan.
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A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
South Korea's presidential office said its National Security Council plans to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the launches.
Japan's Defense Ministry also detected the launches, saying the weapons were believed to have landed in the waters off North Korea's east coast. It said Tokyo strongly protested to Pyongyang, saying Sunday's launches threaten regional and international peace and violated U.N. Security Council resolutions that bans any ballistic activities by North Korea.
Last week, North Korea said leader Kim Jong Un supervised missile tests from the country's destroyer. After the test, Kim said his government remained focused on the "limitless expansion" of its nuclear forces and issued unspecified new tasks to sharpen the country's nuclear attack and rapid-response capabilities.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said last week that his agency has confirmed "a rapid increase" in activities at nuclear facilities in North Korea.
