North Korea launches missiles into East Sea, raising regional alert

2026-01-27 - 08:58

North Korea launched two projectiles, assessed by regional authorities as likely ballistic missiles, toward the East Sea on Tuesday, triggering immediate alerts in Japan and South Korea. Japanese officials confirmed that the missiles fell into the sea, while emphasizing the need for constant vigilance as tensions persist on the Korean Peninsula.Japan increases surveillance measures Following the launch, Japan’s prime minister’s office instructed relevant agencies to intensify information gathering and analysis. Authorities were also told to provide timely updates to the public and ensure the safety of aircraft and maritime traffic, underlining preparedness for any potential contingency linked to North Korea’s missile activity. South Korea confirms detection South Korea’s military said it independently detected at least one unidentified projectile launched toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. Seoul stated that it remains in close coordination with allies as it evaluates the technical characteristics and intent behind the launch. Regional context and timing The missile firing marked Pyongyang’s second such test since early January, when similar launches took place ahead of a diplomatic summit between South Korea and China. Repeated missile tests by North Korea continue to raise concerns across East Asia and beyond, with Türkiye and other international actors monitoring developments for their impact on regional and global security.