North Korea fires seventh ballistic missile this year off its east coast

North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles from the eastern Sinpo area toward the sea off its east coast, marking the seventh missile test this year. South Korea and Japan tracked the launches, with Seoul saying missiles likely fell beyond Japan’s EEZ and coordinating closely with the United States and Tokyo. The launches violate UN Security Council resolutions that Pyongyang rejects as infringements on its self-defence rights, and they come as the US and China prepare for a mid-May summit where North Korea is expected to feature in discussions. Kim Jong Un has asserted the irreversible path to a larger nuclear deterrent.