• North Korea launched two ballistic missiles towards the East Sea on January 27.
• The launches are part of North Korea's recent increase in missile testing activities.
• Japanese Prime Minister condemned the launches as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
• South Korea's military is closely monitoring the situation and has reported information-sharing with the US.

North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, on January 27, marking the second time this month that Pyongyang has conducted such tests. The South Korean military confirmed detecting the projectiles, stating they traveled approximately 350 kilometers before splashing down in the sea, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and ABC News.

The Japanese Coast Guard reported that the missiles had already fallen into the sea and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that an emergency response team had been convened to assess the situation, emphasizing the need for safety measures for aircraft and vessels. Takaichi condemned the missile launch, stating it violated UN Security Council resolutions, highlighting heightened tensions between North Korea and its neighbors, according to AA and Al Jazeera.

This missile test occurred just hours after Elbridge Colby, the U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, concluded his visit to South Korea, underscoring the ongoing international scrutiny of North Korea's missile activities. Both Seoul and Washington are analyzing the implications of the missile launches as part of their defense strategy against Pyongyang's increasing military provocations, as stated by AA and ABC News.