North Korea fired several suspected short-range ballistic missiles Wednesday, according to South Korea's military, just one week before a major Asia-Pacific leaders' summit in Seoul.
It was the first launch of ballistic missiles since May by Pyongyang, which has defied a United Nations Security Council ban on the weapons.
It was also the first such launch since Lee Jae Myung was elected president in South Korea, with a platform of engagement with North Korea.
Lee and U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to meet in South Korea next week at a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Trump is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.
South Korea detected several projectiles believed to be short-range ballistic missiles fired from an area near North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, in a northeasterly direction early on Wednesday, its Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
