South Korea and Japan reported on Sunday that North Korea fired several ballistic missiles toward the sea off its eastern coast.

This marks North Korea’s seventh ballistic missile launch this year and the fourth since the beginning of April 2026, as Pyongyang continues its efforts to accelerate the development of its military capabilities.

A professor at South Korea’s Kyungnam University, Lim Eul-chul, stated that “amid the United States’ focus on Iran, North Korea sees this as the perfect time to develop its nuclear and missile capabilities.”

Days earlier, North Korea conducted a new test involving strategic cruise missiles and anti-warship missiles as part of operational capability tests for the destroyer Choe Hyon.

Prior to that, Pyongyang carried out tests involving a new warhead carrying cluster bombs mounted on a ballistic missile, as well as a form of electromagnetic weapon.