North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast

North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday, escalating tensions with South Korea that have been building for weeks. The missiles were launched from Pyongyang and tracked by South Korean military authorities, who immediately stepped up surveillance activity in response.

The launch came days after Pyongyang warned Seoul it would face retaliation if its territory were violated, and follows border landmine explosions last month that left three South Korean soldiers injured. South Korean officials described the latest launch as an apparent show of force, noting it coincided with the South's recent test-firing of a hypersonic missile.

Japan confirmed it had detected at least one suspected ballistic missile, with authorities monitoring its trajectory as it travelled towards the sea. The incident marks a further deterioration in relations between the two Koreas, with both sides trading warnings and military demonstrations in recent weeks.