North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles Amid Japan, South Korea Tension

Tensions in the Korean Peninsula rose on Sunday after North Korea fired two ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast.

South Korea's presidential office said it "strongly condemned" the missile test for escalating tensions. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) added that the two medium-range missiles flew about 500 kilometers (311 miles).

South Korea convened a National Security Council (NSC) meeting over North Korea's missile launch and "strongly condemned" for escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea's presidential office said in a statement.

The presidential office added that the North's continued provocations and development of nuclear weapons and missiles would further endanger the North Korean regime.

Japan's Vice Defence Minister Toshiro Ino also said the missiles seemed to have landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and there had been no report of damages.

North Korea has conducted an unprecedented number of missile tests this year, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).