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North Korea fired several projectiles, including a short-range ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, South Korea’s military said, marking Pyongyang’s first launch in 37 days and its eighth this year.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launches were detected from the North Korean city of Chongju at around 1 p.m. local time.
The projectiles flew about 80 kilometers, Seoul’s military said, adding that authorities were analyzing their specifications and flight range.
The Yellow Sea is the body of water separating the Korean Peninsula from China.
South Korea’s military said it had “strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for possible additional launches” after detecting the projectiles.
Seoul said South Korea, the U.S. and Japan were maintaining “a state of full readiness” and sharing intelligence closely.
North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests in recent weeks.
Analysts have said the diplomatically isolated state may be seeking to take advantage of weakening international norms to strengthen its nuclear status.
Pyongyang has also repeatedly rejected efforts by the South Korean government to improve relations, calling Seoul its most “hostile” adversary.
In April, North Korea carried out another test to “verify the characteristics and power of a cluster bomb warhead,” according to its state media at the time.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported last week, citing unnamed government sources, that Chinese President Xi Jinping would likely visit North Korea sometime this week.
China is North Korea’s main economic and political backer, though Pyongyang has drawn closer to Russia in recent years.
Neither Beijing nor Pyongyang has confirmed a possible visit by Xi.
The latest launch comes as North Korea continues weapons testing and maintains its hardline stance toward Seoul.
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