North Korea conducts fresh missile tests at sea; South Korea on alert

North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles into the sea on Sunday in its latest round of weapons testing this year, according to a statement from South Korea.South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched in the morning from the Sinpo area on the east coast, adding that Seoul has increased surveillance and is coordinating closely with the US and Japan.The South Korean presidential office said its National Security Council will convene an emergency meeting to assess the situation.Japan’s Defence Ministry also detected the launches, saying the missiles likely landed off North Korea’s eastern coast. It lodged a protest with Pyongyang, saying the launches “threaten regional and international peace” and violate UN Security Council resolutions banning ballistic activity.Last week, North Korean state media said leader Kim Jong Un oversaw missile tests from a destroyer. Kim later said the country would pursue the “limitless expansion” of its nuclear forces and set new tasks to strengthen nuclear strike and rapid-response capabilities.International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said last week that the agency has seen “a rapid increase” in activity at North Korea’s nuclear sites.