South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has begun his visit to China as Beijing aims to strengthen ties amid heightened tensions with Japan over Taiwan.

The missile tests followed a series of public inspections by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, highlighting a drive to expand military capacity. State media reported that Kim visited a munitions plant on Saturday and urged officials to more than double production of tactical guided weapons, signalling plans for a larger arsenal.

When the leaders of China, Japan, and South Korea last met, in May 2024, observers viewed the meeting with a sense of relief. Japan and South Korea were emerging from one of the darkest periods in their bilateral relationship,

South Korea's military also confirmed the launch, saying the missile was fired toward waters off North Korea’s east coast.

Japan is facing its most complex security environment in generations, pointing to Russia, China, North Korea and uncertainty in the Middle East as the key factors, defense leaders said on Thursday. They said Japan’s military will improve its capabilities and bolster cooperation with like-minded partners and allies,