North Korea fired eight short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Sunday, according to a statement from the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, which added that it was assessing the situation.

According to the text, the South Korean military reported that the bullets were fired between 9:08 and 9:43 a.m. local time (0:08 and 0:43 a.m. GMT) from the Sunan neighborhood of the capital Pyongyang.

The statement added, "While our military increases its vigilance against possible new launches, it maintains a fully prepared posture and works closely with the United States."

The National Security Council of South Korea has summoned a meeting in response to North Korea's third nuclear test since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office on May 10.

This is Pyongyang's 18th test of a weapon with these characteristics this year, which is a record number of tests. Pyongyang fired what is thought to be an intercontinental ballistic missile and two short-range ballistic missiles on May 25.

This launch occurred shortly after U.S. Vice President Joe Biden completed his maiden Asian tour in Japan, which led him to South Korea, where the international agenda centered on Pyongyang's nuclear problems.

The North Korean missile launches have occurred during heightened tension between North Korea, its neighbors, and the United States, whose denuclearization negotiations with the regime have been stalled since 2019.

The governments of South Korea and the United States have pointed to an imminent nuclear test in Pyongyang for weeks, which would have already concluded preparations.