North Korea launched approximately 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Thursday, October 29, prompting South Korea to increase military surveillance amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time from the Wonsan area on North Korea's eastern coast. The military is analyzing the missiles' flight distances, trajectories and technical characteristics while maintaining readiness for potential additional launches.

Japan's Ministry of Defense separately detected a suspected ballistic missile launch, with authorities reporting that at least one projectile appeared to have fallen into the sea outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. South Korea said it was exchanging intelligence with the United States and Japan while strengthening surveillance and monitoring additional North Korean military activity. The launches represent Pyongyang's latest ballistic missile tests following an October 12 exercise involving multiple tactical ballistic missiles, which North Korean state media described as an evaluation of improvements to a critical weapons component.

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The missile launches come amid increasing friction between North and South Korea following a September 21 land mine incident near the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone that injured three South Korean soldiers. Seoul accused Pyongyang of responsibility for the explosions, an allegation North Korea has denied. North Korean authorities subsequently threatened to resume propaganda broadcasts and deploy additional weapons systems near the border, citing what they described as repeated South Korean military provocations. Seoul has proposed discussions aimed at clarifying the military boundary and reducing the risk of unintended confrontations, but Pyongyang has not responded.

The latest tests also follow North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's visit to China, where he met senior Chinese officials and reaffirmed cooperation between the neighboring countries. Pyongyang has continued expanding its missile capabilities while strengthening military relationships with Russia and China, raising concerns among regional governments over the security implications of its weapons development. Although the launches demonstrate North Korea's continued ballistic missile activity, the specific missile systems employed, their operational performance and the intended military objectives have not been independently established.