Kim Jong Un Fires Ballistic Missiles Towards Sea of Japan, Alarms Region

• North Korea, led by Kim Jong Un, fired two ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, prompting strong condemnation from Japan.
• Japan's Ministry of Defense reported one missile reached 80 km altitude and flew 350 km; it fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.
• South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff indicated the missiles were launched from Pyongyang's northern area around 3:50 PM local time.
• Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ordered officials to gather information and ensure safety, with no immediate damage reported.
• US Forces Korea acknowledged the launch, reaffirmed commitment to allies, and stated no immediate threat to US or allied personnel.

Why It Matters: North Korea's latest missile launch near Japan escalates regional tensions, drawing international concern.