North Korea has fired multiple ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast, South Korea’s military announced Monday.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Seoul reported that one of the detected missiles traveled more than 900 kilometers (559 miles) from the Pyongyang area. The exact number of missiles launched was not immediately specified by the JCS.

Japan’s coastguard also confirmed the launch, stating that two unidentified projectiles, believed to be ballistic missiles, were fired by North Korea and appeared to have already fallen. South Korea’s presidential office condemned the launches, deeming them a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and calling for an immediate cessation.

South Korean officials suggested the latest missile launch might be a show of force in response to South Korea's recent test-firing of a hypersonic missile. This event occurred just days after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung oversaw the country’s first public test of such a weapon, intended to enhance Seoul's strike capabilities.

The Korean Peninsula has experienced escalating tensions, marked by a series of weapons tests from both North and South Korea. This follows an incident on October 3 where North Korea tested a hypersonic intermediate-range missile. Additionally, last week, Seoul demanded an apology from Pyongyang after a landmine blast in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) injured three South Korean soldiers, a blast a joint investigation attributed to North Korean forces.

Despite the heightened military activities, South Korea had previously expressed intentions to facilitate dialogue with North Korea. President Lee had pledged to reopen diplomatic channels with Pyongyang. However, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has continued to advance his nuclear weapons program, rejecting offers for stalled diplomacy.

Talks between Kim Jong Un and former U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. North Korea maintains its demand that the U.S. abandon its "hostile" policy and cease requiring denuclearization as a precondition for dialogue.

The repeated missile launches by North Korea underscore the persistent challenges in achieving denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula, further complicating diplomatic efforts amidst ongoing military posturing by regional powers.