North Korea launches ballistic missiles into sea

Experts say the North’s leader, Kim Jong Un, believes a bigger weapons arsenal would give him greater leverage to win concessions from the US. Picture: Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea launched short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Tuesday, according to its neighbours, as the North heightens animosities with rival South Korea ahead of a major political meeting.

South Korea’s military said it detected lift-offs of several ballistic missiles from an area north east of the North Korean capital of Pyongyang before the missiles each flew about 350km.