North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its eastern coast on Sunday. South Korea and Japan reported the launches, noting that the weapons are believed to have fallen into the sea outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.
This incident marks the second set of tests in roughly a week. It follows a launch eight days prior in which North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, also called the Sea of Japan, as part of a joint firepower drill. Pyongyang has accused the United States of driving tensions on the Korean Peninsula through a series of military drills.
The launches occurred hours after North Korea rejected a UN agency resolution demanding an end to its nuclear activities and condemning its nuclear program. In rejecting the resolution, Pyongyang reasserted its absolute status as a nuclear-armed state. Additionally, Donald Trump told reporters that leader Kim Jong-un possesses 57 very powerful nuclear weapons.