Madar (International) - North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast into the Sea of Japan on Thursday, October 29, 2026, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Al Jazeera English reported, citing AFP and Reuters.
The missiles were launched at about 03:30 GMT from an area around Wonsan on North Korea's eastern coast, the JCS said in a statement. Japan's Defence Ministry separately confirmed the launch of what it said could be a ballistic missile that fell outside the country's Exclusive Economic Zone, Kyodo News reported.
The launch came less than a week after Seoul proposed talks, amid growing tensions over a landmine explosion that injured three South Korean soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone on September 21. A joint South Korea-United Nations investigation concluded earlier this month that North Korea had planted the mines more than a year ago, and Seoul has called for an apology.
Pyongyang rejected the finding. Its permanent representative to the UN, Kim Song, sent a letter to the Security Council this week accusing Seoul of fabricating the explosion and warning that violations of the country's sovereignty could trigger self-defence. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, called the demands for an apology "despicable" and rejected an offer of medical equipment from Seoul.
Seoul invited Pyongyang last Friday to discuss restoring communication channels. It remains unclear whether North Korea will agree to talks, the report said.
