North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles Days After Seoul's Hypersonic Weapons Test

North Korea has fired multiple ballistic missiles towards the sea off its eastern coast, South Korea's military said on Monday, escalating tensions between the two countries following Seoul's recent hypersonic missile test.

According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles were launched from an area near Pyongyang at around 9:20 a.m. local time. The missiles appeared to be of different types, with one reportedly travelling more than 900 kilometres.

Earlier, Japan's coast guard reported that North Korea had launched two unidentified projectiles believed to be ballistic missiles, adding that both appeared to have already fallen.

South Korea's National Security Office convened an emergency meeting following the launches, condemning the tests as violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions and urging Pyongyang to immediately halt such activities.

North Korea has been under United Nations sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development programmes.

Rising Tensions Between the Two Koreas

The latest launches come amid growing tensions between North and South Korea following a series of military tests by both countries in recent weeks.

Last week, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung supervised the country's first test-firing of a hypersonic missile, marking a rare public appearance by a South Korean president at a missile test.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff described North Korea's latest launches as a show of force in response to Seoul's successful hypersonic missile test and an attempt to demonstrate Pyongyang's missile capabilities.

North Korea last conducted a ballistic missile launch on October 3. Its state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported that the country had tested a hypersonic missile under the supervision of leader Kim Jong Un.

The latest developments followed a landmine explosion near the inter-Korean border last month that injured three South Korean soldiers. Seoul accused North Korea of planting the mines and demanded an apology, but Pyongyang rejected the allegation and accused South Korea of provocation.

Possible Talks With Trump

North Korea has conducted missile tests on more than 10 occasions this year, including four launches within the past month.

According to Song Seong-jong, a professor at Daejeon University in Seoul and a former South Korean Defence Ministry official, the frequent tests could be part of Pyongyang's strategy to strengthen its negotiating position ahead of a possible summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump.

Song said North Korea wanted to increase its standing and leverage before any potential meeting with Trump.

The latest missile launches are expected to heighten regional security concerns as both Koreas continue to demonstrate their military capabilities.