North Korea fired at least two ballistic missile into waters off its east coast Wednesday, South Korean and Japanese authorities said, ahead of high-anticipated talks between Kim Jong Un and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Russia’s Far East.
The North Korean leader arrived in Russia on Tuesday, state media reported, aboard his heavily-armored private train accompanied by party leaders, including a top military official in charge of the country’s ballistic missile programs, according to photos shared by North Korean state media KCNA.
The Japanese Coast Guard said a possible ballistic missile was launched by North Korea at 11:46 a.m. local time Wednesday and was followed minutes later by a second.
The launches come as Kim and Putin are set to meet in a summit seen as a significant development bringing together two leaders who are increasingly isolated on the world stage and coming amid Russia’s protracted and faltering war on Ukraine and crippling UN sanctions.
This is a developing story. More to come.
CNN’s Junko Ogura in Tokyo contributed reporting.