North Korea conducts multiple ballistic missile tests

North Korea conducted a series of ballistic missile launches on April 7 and April 8, 2026. According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles launched on Wednesday traveled approximately 240 kilometers toward the East Sea. A separate launch of a suspected ballistic missile occurred near Pyongyang on Tuesday. South Korean authorities, in coordination with the United States, are currently analyzing the technical details of these events. In response to the tests, Seoul convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council and urged Pyongyang to cease such activities. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated that no missiles entered Japanese territory or its exclusive economic zone, and no damages were reported. Despite the tension, the Japanese government officially condemned the actions, citing a threat to regional and international peace and security. These incidents mark the fifth confirmed testing series by North Korea this year.