North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles toward Japan; PM Takaichi activates emergency protocols as regional tensions peak

Notably, this marks the seventh ballistic missile launch of the year and the fourth such test in April alone, according to South Korean military officials cited in an Al Jazeera report. 

North Korea renewed its provocation by launching multiple ballistic missiles toward Japan on Sunday, prompting the Japanese government to remain on high alert and activate its top-tier crisis management protocols.

Confirming the development, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi provided details about the early morning escalation. In a post on X, she stated, “At around 06:00 today, what may be multiple ballistic missiles were launched from North Korea.”

Takaichi added that the missiles are likely to have fallen outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). She also noted that Japan, the United States, and South Korea are closely coordinating to analyze the situation.

“The items that may be ballistic missiles are believed to have already fallen outside Japan’s EEZ, and at present, Japan, the United States, and South Korea are closely coordinating to analyze information,” she said in the post.

In response to the launch, the Japanese government convened an emergency response team at the Crisis Management Center in the Prime Minister’s Office to gather information.

“As the government, immediately after the launch, we convened the emergency response team at the Crisis Management Center in the Prime Minister’s Office to collect information, while I instructed relevant ministries and agencies to devote all efforts to information gathering and analysis,” the Prime Minister added.

Notably, this marks the seventh ballistic missile launch of the year and the fourth such test in April alone, according to South Korean military officials cited in an Al Jazeera report. 

The missiles were launched from the eastern coastal city of Sinpo at around 6:10 a.m. local time (21:10 GMT on Saturday), according to South Korea’s military, as reported by Al Jazeera. After the launch, South Korea increased its surveillance and stayed in close coordination with the United States and Japan.

As tensions rose, South Korea’s presidential office held an emergency security meeting. Reports highlighted growing concern over North Korea’s continued weapons activity. The missile launches violate United Nations Security Council resolutions that ban North Korea from developing its missile program.

According to Al Jazeera, North Korea has repeatedly rejected these restrictions, saying they violate its sovereign right to self-defense.

The timing of the launches is important, as they come ahead of a planned summit in mid-May between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, where North Korea is expected to be a major issue.

The launches also follow a recent warning from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi. He said there has been “very serious” progress in North Korea’s nuclear program, including the development of a new uranium enrichment facility.

(With ANI inputs)