North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles off east coast, Seoul says

North Korea on Monday fired multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast, Seoul's military said, after weeks of mounting friction over a landmine explosion along the countries' heavily fortified border. "Our military detected around 09:20 (00:20 GMT) several ballistic missiles launched from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, referring to the Sea of Japan. "Our military has stepped up surveillance and vigilance against possible additional launches," it added. Japan's defence ministry separately confirmed the launch of at least one suspected ballistic missile. Tensions between the two Koreas have soared since three South Korean soldiers were injured last month when two landmines detonated in the Seoul-controlled area of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that divides the two countries. A joint Seoul-UN investigation concluded that North Korea had planted the landmines over a year ago, something Pyongyang has angrily denied. Read moreNorth Korea launches ballistic missile as tensions with Seoul grow over border mine blasts Pyongyang has since launched a ballistic missile it says incorporated artificial intelligence, while Seoul last we...