North Korea fires ballistic missiles toward Sea of Japan

By AFP 27 January 2026, 10:07 am

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This picture taken on January 25, 2026 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on January 26, 2026 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) visiting the Mansudae Art Studio to inspect sculptures to be displayed at the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations, in Pyongyang. (Photo by KCNA VIA KNS / AFP)

North Korea fired what appeared to be two ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, Tokyo says.

South Korea’s Joint Chief of Staff also said it had detected a “projectile” being fired towards what Seoul calls the East Sea.

Japan’s coast guard, citing the defense ministry, says it had detected two ballistic missiles and that both were estimated to have already splashed down.

Japanese news agency Jiji Press reports the two missiles had landed outside of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone, citing defense ministry sources.

The test is Pyongyang’s second of the month, following a salvo of missiles fired hours before South Korea’s leader headed to China for a summit.

It comes a day after a high-level visit to Seoul by the Pentagon’s number three official Elbridge Colby, who hailed South Korea as a “model ally.”

North Korea has stepped up missile testing significantly in recent years.

Analysts say this drive is aimed at improving precision strike capabilities, challenging the United States as well as South Korea, and testing weapons before potentially exporting them to Russia.