North Korea fires ballistic missiles as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung makes state visit to China

Seoul, South Korea
Reuters
—

North Korea fired several ballistic missiles from its capital Pyongyang into the sea off its eastern coast around 7:50 a.m. local time on Sunday, the South Korean military said.

North Korea’s first ballistic missile launch in two months comes as South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung will pay a state visit to China on Sunday, where Seoul said peace on the Korean Peninsula would be discussed.

“Our military has increased its surveillance and vigilance in anticipation of further launches,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, saying they are closely sharing information with the United States and Japan.

The missiles have already fallen, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defense.

The last time Pyongyang tested its ballistic missile was in November.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday called for more than doubling the production capacity of tactical guided weapons during his latest visit to a munitions factory, North Korean state media reported.

In recent weeks, Kim has made a series of visits to weapons manufacturing plants, as well as a nuclear-powered submarine, and supervised missile tests ahead of this year’s ninth Workers’ Party congress to set major policy goals.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will host Lee for a state visit starting Sunday.

Wi Sung-lac, Lee’s security adviser, said Seoul hoped Beijing would play a role in promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula, without giving details of the summit’s agenda.

Lee’s agenda with Xi includes persuading China to facilitate dialogue with North Korea, experts said, at a time when North Korea has rejected Lee’s efforts.